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If the Rangers are going to make the playoffs via the Wild Card, they really need to make it back home in good shape. Texas finishes out the entire rest of the month of August away from Arlington with four games in Anaheim, three in Oakland, and three in Houston.
Tonight, with their best pitcher on the mound, the Rangers began their ten-game road trip with a nice win over Wild Card combatant Anaheim.
Cole Hamels went seven innings and allowed just two runs on three hits and two walks. The Rangers’ lefty never really labored all evening and actually left after seven innings despite tossing only 92 pitches.
This certainly wasn’t a must win game by any stretch of the imagination but with Hamels on the mound, it was a game the Rangers needed to win.
Texas is once again at .500 and are within a game and a half of Anaheim in the Wild Card standings though Minnesota overtook Anaheim for the second Wild Card spot with the Angels’ loss.
Player of the Game: Adrian Beltre wants to make the playoffs and he’s going to drag the rest of these turds to October kicking and screaming if he has to. Tonight Beltre collected four of the five RBIs with his three-run blast in the top of the third ultimately being the difference of the game.
Up Next: The Rangers once again give getting above .500 a try with Tyson Ross on the mound against RHP Ricky Nolasco. First pitch from Anaheim is scheduled for 9:07 pm CT.