Rangers Hold On in The Bronx, Win Series Versus Yankees

Despite nearly blowing an early seven-run lead, the Texas Rangers held on and gutted out a series win against a another division leader on the road.

As far as mission statements go, they don’t get much easier for the Texas Rangers than this: Just keep winning series. Better yet, keep winning series against the tougher teams on your schedule. Even better, win those series on the road in hostile environments. To be sure, they don’t get much more hostile than the bandbox known as Yankee Stadium.

Such was the case during yesterday’s matinee rubber match in New York. After coasting to a 7-0 lead, a bit of bad luck turned the tide and very nearly cost the Rangers the game. Starter Nick Martinez cruised into the fifth inning keeping the vaunted Yankee lineup at bay. But with two outs in the home half of the frame, New York received a gift in the form of a third strike wild pitch, which put Austin Romine on first base and ignited the outburst.

The Yankees promptly parlayed the break into a four run rally to cut the lead to 7-4. Texas bats proceeded to go silent while the bullpen flirted with disaster for the rest of the afternoon. The lead was cut to 7-5, then 7-6. At the end of the day, though, beleaguered closer Matt Bush came through in clutch in the bottom of the ninth. The 7-6 win was as tense as a late June baseball game can get.

More importantly, it stretched Rangers’ streak of non-losing series to five. In fact, save for the maddening split at home against Toronto last week, they’re in the midst of probably their most impressive run of the season. Sure, you can point to the eleven wins in twelve games back in May, but the caliber of competition back then wasn’t as strong as it is now.

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Simply put, the Rangers are displaying a good portion of the trademark grit we’re used to seeing. As up-and-down as this squad has been, it’s mightily encouraging to see them show such mettle. And if we’re being honest, taking two of three against the Yankees in their park, against those obnoxious fans, is nothing but deliciously sweet icing on the cake. Old hatreds still run deep around here. Any time our boys get over on the Evil Empire is cause for celebration. Sunday’s final pitch surely elicited a Ric Flair-esque “WOO!!” from my couch. I’m sure I wasn’t alone.

I’ve said this before about these guys, and I’ll say it again: I was wrong about them. I was ready to sell off every asset during that miserable start. But they have proven to be a worthy, battle-tested bunch in the mold of their manager and their third baseman and team leader. Are there holes that show up on a week-to-week basis? Sure. But there are holes in most every team in the American League. As far as the Rangers are concerned, why not just hang around, win a wild card, and then take their chances from there?

It’s not difficult to see that mindset in their day-to-day demeanor. The chemistry has always been in place, but they also have a look of a grim determination that wasn’t necessarily there when they were struggling. It was on Matt Bush’s face yesterday. He went right at the heart of the Yankee lineup with his best stuff. It paid off with a cathartic roar and a critical win to keep pace in the playoff hunt.

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Starting tonight, they face yet another playoff contender in the Cleveland Indians. The Texas Rangers have thus far exceeded expectations in this, the toughest stretch of their schedule to date. More of the same resiliency and a little luck should allow them to finish June with a flourish. Right now, that’s a lot more than any of us could have asked for when the month started.

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