Cruz, Beltre Hot At Same Time

Before we begin, let's remember, the Texas Rangers faced the Houston Astros over the weekend — a team that success would only come with if you swept them and two out of three just isn't good enough.

Well, the Rangers only got two of the three games, but their offense came to life highlighted by Friday's game which saw them put up 10 runs before you could even say "Rangers Build-a-Bear," spurred by a Nelson Cruz grand slam.

On Sunday, A.J. Pierzynski came back to life with a first-inning three-run homer to get the Rangers an early lead that they managed to hold on thanks to another standout performance from the bullpen.

But there are two guys who have carried the Rangers over the past week, when they scored 25 runs over their past four games, including Saturday's 9-5 loss to Houston in which Yu Darvish's wheels fell off.

Cruz and Adrian Beltre are on a simultaneous tear as the Rangers' Nos. 3 and 4 hitters, respectively, and it's helped lift the Rangers' offense out of the doldrums that have plagued them off-and-on throughout the season.

In the last six games, get a load of these numbers the two have combined for: 19-for-48, nine runs, three doubles, six home runs and 11 RBIs.

Those kind of numbers might help the Rangers get past some starting pitching struggles for the time being, now they just have to hope it can keep up.

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