Good teams find a way to win, no matter what the month says on the calendar. Right now, the Rangers are finding ways to win.
Perfect example of this was Saturday afternoon in St. Louis. The Rangers couldn’t get anything going against Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez. The young righty shut down the Rangers offense for seven innings. Looked like it was going to be one of those days where you just tip your hat and try again tomorrow, right?
However, that’s not how this Rangers team plays. “Never Ever Quit” is more than just a motto, it’s a way of life for manager Jeff Banister’s squad.
The Rangers came back and scored two runs in the eighth and two runs in the ninth off the Cardinals bullpen to get the 4-3 comeback win. They scored those four runs in the most unconventional way: wild pitch, error, bases loaded walk and sacrifice fly. The stat sheet may not look nice, but the win column does.
Saturday’s win raised the Rangers record to 15-4 in one-run games this season, the best in MLB. They’re tied with the Nationals for the most comeback wins this season with 21.
Once the Rangers got their bullpen issues solved, they took off. The younger players stepping up has also made a difference. Rougned Odor, Jurickson Profar and Nomar Mazara always seem to be involved somehow in these types of wins. All three played a key role today.
The Rangers, winners of five straight, own the best record in the American League (44-25) and are looking like an elite team. Just image what it might be like if their ace, Yu Darvish, returns to form once he’s able to go again.
