In a growing trend since Sam Dyson replaced Shawn Tolleson as the Rangers' closer, the team's bullpen was once again dominant on Sunday against one of the best lineups in baseball.
After Derek Holland worked seven innings and left the bullpen with a 3-2 lead, Matt Bush struck out the two batters he faced in the eighth inning with his rediscovered 98-mph heater. Jake Diekman entered to face pinch-hitter Adam Lind and struck him out on four pitches to end the eighth.
The ninth was all Dyson's, and he owned it against the teeth of the Mariners order — Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Dae-Ho Lee — needing just eight pitches to retire the side and record his seventh save of the season.
The final tally for the Rangers' bullpen over the final two innings? No hits, no walks, four strikeouts and lots of Mariners tears.
Now, if the Rangers can get just one of either Tolleson or Tom Wilhelmsen to recover from rough starts and live up to expectations? Well, then everyone better look out.
