Back in 2012, it came down to the final series of the season between the Rangers and A's in Oakland to decide the AL West title after the Rangers had collapsed over the final month of the season.
On Wednesday night, the teams returned to the scene of the crime, where Oakland ended Texas' two-year reign atop the West and the Rangers repaid the A's. Though the Rangers aren't going anywhere beyond Sept. 28, when they close the season at home against Oakland, the A's are still fighting to dig their way out of a historic tailspin and on Wednesday things didn't get any better for them.
The Rangers fought back from a 1-0 deficit to score five runs off Oakland closer Sean Doolittle and another off Jesse Chavez to win the game 6-1 and eliminate the A's from AL West contention by handing the Angels the AL West title, ending the A's two-year run.
There was no bitter for Rangers fans on Wednesday. It was all sweet as they saw Doolittle dejected in the dugout and looking like someone had just kicked his dog repeatedly. True, the Rangers' season was lost long ago, but there is still some solace to take from the way things are playing out now, especially seeing as how the Rangers are playing a big part in Oakland's demise.
And to think, they close the season in Arlington against the A's, who could be playing for a wild card spot at that time. How sweet would that be?
