That Texas Rangers offense is back.
No, it's not the one that slugged homers left and right but instead, it's the one that can't score a run when their pitcher holds the opposing team to one run. The one that gets runners on base without much problem but then can't do anything once they're there.
Matt Garza nearly fell victim to the offense again over the weekend, and Alexi Ogando did.
Garza threw his best game as a Ranger in a must-win game in Kansas City on Saturday night, shutting down a hot offense and being a solo homer in the ninth inning away from tossing a complete-game shutout. As great as Garza was, Ogando might have been better on Sunday afternoon.
Ogando was the model of efficiency for the second straight outing — in Tampa and in Kansas City — going seven innings just two starts after being transitioned from the bullpen following his third DL stint of the season. To get those seven scoreless innings under his belt, he needed only 77 pitches after entering the game with an 80-pitch limit. He was simply brilliant and should've earned a victory. Instead, the offense got nothing.
The Rangers are in a tight spot now and must sweep the Astros to head into their final series of the season against a hot Angels team and probably win three of those four with Garza and Ogando slated to pitch the first two games of the series.
They'll need more of the same from both.
