Monday Morning Texas Rangers Update

"We don’t have to score 15 runs to win games," Daniels said. "But we are going to be in every game. We may have to do things a little differently. We may have to scratch and kick to get to four runs, but if we do, I like our chances."

-Jon Daniels, July 31

The Rangers got their four runs yesterday and they won. Derek Holland was great. Ron Washington became the franchise leader in wins for a manager. The Rangers won a series in Oakland and gained ground in the standings. Elvis Andrus made like a half dozen amazing plays in the field.

It was a pretty good day.

The only downside was the dark cloud of Nelson Cruz's impending suspension hanging over the Rangers. The announcement from MLB on the Biogenesis bans are expected today. For what it's worth, Cruz had a nice series in Oakland and hit what very well could end up being his final home run as a Texas Ranger in a pretty important game.

ESPN Dallas' Eric Gilmore provides the Rapid Reaction to the Rangers' 4-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics which pulled the Rangers to within 2.5 games of first place. One week ago, the Rangers were getting shut out for the third time in four games and had fallen to 6 games back of Oakland. What a difference a week makes.

T.R. Sullivan's game story focuses on Holland's domination in a game that meant the difference between being down 2.5 games or 4.5 games.

Jeff Wilson recaps yesterday's big win while also writing about Washington's ascent to the top of the Rangers' managerial wins list.

Behind the DMN paywall, Gerry Fraley writes that if yesterday was Cruz's final game of the 2013 season, at least he went out with a Boomstick.

Sullivan writes about the Cruz suspension situation and discusses what the Rangers might do if they lose Cruz beginning tomorrow. Are you ready for the Joey Butler era?

Richard Durrett pens a love letter to Ron Washington in electronic ink about Washington being the greatest manager in team history.

Master Tesfatsion checks in on Matt Harrison who tossed 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball in his second rehab start for Frisco.

Fraley blogs about Matt Garza apologizing for his tweets regarding Eric Sogard on Saturday night which probably came under the threat of the Rangers reacquiring Michael Young to police the clubhouse.

Jeff Wilson has some notes on Garza's apology, Colby Lewis making a final rehab start on Thursday, and Martin Perez facing the Angels for a second straight start.

Sullivan and Tesfatsion share the MLB.com Notebook to report on Lewis' rehab progress, Neil Ramirez awaiting his PTBNL trade fate, and a few other items.

Finally, MLB.com's Cash Kruth previews the Rangers' series opener against the Angels tonight in Anaheim. Martin Perez will face Jerome Williams in a rematch of last Wednesday's 2-1 Rangers win.