Snapping The Slump

The Rangers recent 5-game losing streak can be accredited to several things. The starting pitcher has been up and down over the past week. When the pitching was decent, the hitting was lacking. Put all those together clicking and you get wins. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz getting back to their old self.

A prime example would be the 6-2 win over the Braves on Friday night. The bats of Hamilton and Cruz came alive, responsible for all 6 runs. Cruz, who had been 0-for-18 with 10 strikeouts in his last five games, got it started in the second with an RBI double. With the game tied at 1-1 in the 5th, Hamilton gave the Rangers the lead with a 2-run moon shot to center at Turner Field. A couple of batters later, Cruz gets another RBI double and it was that’s all Colby Lewis needed. Lewis struck out 10 in one of his best outings of the season.

Hamilton ended the night 4-for-5, helping him break out of a 3-for-17 slump in his last four games before Friday and was hitting just .233 over his last 20 games to see his average drop from .375 to .284.

Both Hamilton and Cruz have spent the season battling the injury bug, which in turn could have affected their performance at the plate. But they appear to be healthy and ready to roll, a welcome sight to Rangers Nation. Needless to say, it’s critical for the Rangers to have both of their heavy-hitting outfielders clicking and generate momentum for the rest of the season.

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