Rangers Morning News: Critical Home Stand Begins

0. 126. Final. 5. 62
The Texas Rangers prepare for American League West competition in what could be a season-defining 10-game home stand at Globe Life Park.
Following a 6-4 road trip to the west coast, the Texas Rangers can’t possibly feel any more pressure than they do now. A one-game deficit between themselves and the first-place Houston Astros now threatens to leap back up to three games if things unfold the wrong way beginning this evening at Globe Life Park.
Over the last 18 innings of baseball at Safeco Field in Seattle, Mariners pitching fired back-to-back shutout losses – this after a four-home run outing in a 9-6 Texas victory on Tuesday night.
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You expected Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez, now with four wins over Texas this year, to be his typical self.
Perhaps you didn’t expect for Rangers lefty Derek Holland to lose his first start ever at Safeco, especially the way he had been pitching.
Evan Grant discusses that bench-clearing altercation between the Astros and the Rangers down in Houston just after the All Star break in the Dallas Morning News this week. He points primarily to the idea that perhaps this was a turning point for this team, a moment when first-year manager Jeff Banister spiritually took control of this team.
Perhaps this is true.
If so, maybe it’s time for some more drama as the Oakland A’s come to town Friday night to kick off a 10-game home stand in Arlington.
Following the Athletics series comes the most highly anticipated four-game set against the Astros and Rangers possibly ever. It won’t be the Rangers final opportunity against Houston, but it will go a long ways in defining this highly unlikely 2015 season that’s seen the Rangers bounce back from a dismal 2014 campaign all the way to a legitimate playoff contender just a year later.
But they are not there yet.
Struggling starting-pitcher Colby Lewis (14-8) kicks off the home stand at 7:05pm CDT.
Rangers News From Around The Internet
Hamilton To Have Surgery, Chi Chi Starts On Sunday (SB Nation – Adam J. Morris)
If you’re eagerly awaiting the return of slugger Josh Hamilton, don’t get carried away because he’s having arthroscopic surgery. Chi Chi Gonzalez will start against the A’s on Sunday, thus clearing Cole Hamels to take the mound in the series opener against Houston on Monday.
Hamels Not Worried About Getting Hit By Line Drive Again (DMN – Evan Grant)
Cole Hamels took a screaming line drive off the shoulder during Tuesday night’s 9-6 win over the Mariners. Literally knocked on his rear on the play, the Rangers ace declares that he’s not worried about the same thing happening again.
Greatest September Collapses (ESPN – David Schoenfield)
Probably not a good time to really get into Rangers baseball history given the fact that it’s – well, September. There’s been some serious ‘fades to black’ on the part of this franchise and for reasons that range from the Texas heat to the beginning of the Dallas Cowboys football season. No doubt that the 2012 melt down, whatever the cause, is definitely one to remember – or forget, you decide.
Next: Rangers: 2016 Schedule Release And What To Expect
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- Published on 09/11/2015 at 11:01 AM
- Last updated at 09/11/2015 at 01:20 AM