The Rangers Are 19-15

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That game is why baseball is the best sport.

  • This game started weird. Things got going on time despite the threat of rain, and after Texas took a 2-1 lead into the 2nd inning, things got delayed at 7:46 PM. Play didn't resume until 9:05 PM.
     
  • Despite the delay, Derek Holland made an attempt to go back out and continue his turn in the rotation. However, things predictably took a turn for the south in the 3rd inning. Jeff Banister called upon Anthony Ranaudo, who walked 5 hitters on his way to making it a 10-5 White Sox lead after the 4th inning.
     
  • Things weren't looking good, but the Rangers didn't give up. They scored a run in the 7th inning on an Ian Desmond solo home run, only to see Alex Claudio give it up in the top of the 8th inning.
     
  • Heading into the bottom of the 8th, it was 11-6 Chicago, and it seemed an inevitability that this one would end up being a loss. An Elvis Andrus single, Bryan Holaday double, and Nomar Mazara walk loaded the bases for Mitch Moreland. Moreland singled in a run, cutting the deficit to 11-7.
     
  • After Rougned Odor struck out, Adrian Beltre hit a deep sacrifice fly to cut it to 11-8. With two outs in the inning, Ian Desmond tripled, clearing the bases and bringing Texas to within a single run.
     
  • It was at this point that White Sox manager Robin Ventura made perhaps one of the most inexplicable decisions I've seen this season. He appeared to have Albers unintentionally but intentionally walk Prince Fielder, holder of a .519 OPS, and a guy who hasn't shown any threat of doing much damage to the baseball this season. That brought up Ryan Rua, who hammered a 3-run shot to give Texas a 13-11 lead, which Shawn Tolleson was able to preserve to get the Rangers a win. Prince Fielder perhaps won this game for Texas by being a good hitter. Three years ago. I can't wrap my head around that.
     
  • Good grief, Rougned Odor is looking great. He had another great day, going 3-for-5 with a double, raising his OPS on the season to .889. I think it's fair to say that he's feeling very comfortable at the plate.
     
  • Rua put up another solid showing when given the chance, and finds himself with a respectable .743 OPS. Not bad for a guy who plays perhaps only once a week, maybe twice. I'm left to wonder what this lineup might look like if he were to get some more consistent playing time against left-handers at first base, as well as spelling Fielder in the DH spot at times. Then I remember how much money Fielder is making, and how unlikely it makes that idea.
     
  • This one only counts as a single win in the standings, but man, it sure felt more important than that. This would seem to be the type of game that the guys can look at as the season progresses to say that even though they're down, they're never out until they've used up all 27 outs.
     
  • Right now, the AL West is Seattle, Texas, then everyone else. Yu Darvish and Shin-Soo Choo come back soon. It's a great time to be a Rangers fan. The Rangers go for another series win tomorrow at 1:05 PM as Cole Hamels takes the mound against Mat Latos.