With the Texas Rangers' 2013 season long-gone in the rear-view, let's take a look at some of the season's defining moments, both good and bad, in a season that ultimately fell short of the Rangers' expectations.
Moment: Rangers complete a four-game series win over rival Oakland on a walkoff throw-out at home that set off a raucous celebration.
When/Where: June 20, Arlington
What: After the Rangers were swept in four games at home by Toronto — their first home four-game sweep in ages — things were in a bad way in Texas. All the Rangers needed to cure their funk was an emotional home series against the Oakland A's, who have surpassed the Los Angeles Angels as the Rangers' biggest rival. After taking two of the first three games, the series was closed out on a Thursday afternoon with either a series win or a split on the horizon. The game was a fiery one. There was an Ian Kinsler go-ahead single in the eighth inning, after which he rubbed some A's the wrong way with a little celebrating on his way to first base. Then, in the top of the ninth with Josh Donaldson on second base, a Seth Smith single was corralled by Craig Gentry, who hit cut-off man Elvis Andrus, who fired to catcher A.J. Pierzynski to nail Donaldson at the plate, which set off a celebration that hadn't been seen in a while. After the game, Donaldson was quoted as saying next time he was coming home toward Pierzynski, he "wouldn't slide." We didn't get to see that collision, but it sure set a fire under the Rangers, who then went to St. Louis and swept the Cardinals.
Next up: St. Louis sweep
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