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The Rangers led this game 1-0 with Martin Perez playing with fire for much of it. It was National League fire so it's only kind of warm but eventually it got too hot for 'Teen with runners on the corners in the sixth and the Rangers opted for Tony Barnette in the middle innings as they so often have.
Barnette allowed a game-tying sac fly and then served up a two-run dinger to Adam Lind to put the Nationals up 3-1 because that's what Tony Barnette does in 2017 and that's what Lind has done since forever against Texas.
Shin-Soo Choo hit a long solo dong to start the ninth and the rally was on as Elvis Andrus singled, stole second, Adrian Beltre walked, and Nomar Mazara hit a double about a foot from going over the wall for what would have been a three-run home run. Instead, The Big Chill's double drove in Andrus and the game was tied.
With nobody out and runners on second and third, Robinson Chirinos hit a ball to fairly medium-deep right field but Bryce Harper threw a 98 MPH laser to home plate to get pinch runner Pete Kozma at home aided kindly by a truly poor slide by Kozma. With two outs, Rougned Odor struck out as Rougned Odor does.
At this point, a real true honest National League game broke out where all this strategy* happened (*unloading your bench so you don't have to have a pitcher bat because you realize that is stupid and bad) in extras until finally Joey Gallo made an appearance and promptly doubled to his friend Harper.
Maz was intentionally walked and then Robinson Chirinos made 'em pay and proved that he is the best catcher on the roster with a two-out, three run home run to make it 6-3 Texas.
Keone Kela struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to pick up the win. The game ended with starting pitcher Joe Ross batting. National League baseball, my friends.
Player of the Game: Adrian Beltre played baseball today and he stole a base. (Also, Robinson Chirinos is better than Jonathan Lucroy.)
Up Next: The Rangers struck out a bunch in today's game and tomorrow they face Max Scherzer so that should be fun. At least Texas will counter with their ace, Austin Bibens-Dirkx. Sunday's game does not begin in the morning but it's still an early game with a first pitch scheduled for 3:05 pm CT.