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The Rangers' longest stretch of consecutive games in 2013 -- 20 games in 20 days -- actually ended on day 21 thanks to ESPN requesting an evening to shower the Cardinals with their affections and then showers in the Gateway to the West causing the Rangers hang out through a two hour and 59 minute weather delay.
It was worth the wait.
The Rangers can take their breather today knowing that they've survived. The Rangers started their 20 games in 20 days trek up two games in the AL West; they end it up one game in the AL West despite going 9-11 over that span. However, thanks to the series win over the Oakland A's last week and this weekend's sweep of the Cardinals, the six-game losing streak in the middle of those 20 games seems like a distant memory.
The appropriately named Rob Rains handles the Rapid Reaction to the Rangers 2-1 sweeping win over the St. Louis Cardinals. It must be difficult for Cardinals fans to understand how the Baseball Gods could have let them down so hard this weekend.
T.R. Sullivan recaps the game and notes the impressive outing by Missouri native Nick Tepesch who traded zeroes with Cardinal ace Adam Wainwright until he ran out of gas in the 6th.
Jeff Wilson's game story focuses on the Rangers surviving Wainwright thanks to some huge at-bats by David Murphy and Leonys Martin in the 7th inning. Both hits -- Murphy's double and Martin's game-tying RBI single -- came with two outs and on 3-2 pitches.
Fun fact: The Rangers have trailed at some point in each game of their five game winning streak. Maybe it's the return to the blue jerseys or maybe it's the fine work from the bullpen over this stretch. Evan Grant's recap notes the 3 1/3 innings of shutout baseball from the bullpen last night.
ESPN Dallas' Rains writes about Tepesch's making a start in his home state and quotes Tepesch as saying that he was happy which is incongruent with the idea that Nick Tepesch experiences human emotion.
Wilson writes that the Rangers are glad to be finished with 20 in 20 especially after Sunday Night Baseball became Monday Morning Baseball.
Behind the DMN paywall, Kevin Sherrington offers his insight on why he believes the now healthier Rangers are headed in the right direction after the mid-June swoon.
Sullivan's Notebook covers the call-up of Engel Beltre for the injured Craig Gentry and the growing need for a right-handed outfield bat, the All-Star potential for Ranger pitchers, and updates on various injuries.
Wilson's has notes on E. Beltre's arrival, Yu Darvish's recent slider usage, and updates on Alexi Ogando and Joakim Soria.
Lastly, the DMN once again recaps how some Ranger top prospects fared highlighted this week by the reemergence of Mike Olt.