Beltre’s bat leads Rangers to 9-6 win over Twins

Yovani Gallardo had what has to be the Platonic ideal 2018 Texas Rangers start as he gave up four runs in 5 ¹⁄₃ innings but kept the walks allowed to a meager two while striking out only three.

Unlike other weeks, that might have led to a loss. But this is not other weeks. This is the week that the Rangers only win baseball games.

Indeed, after a six-run outburst in a rather odorous outing from Minnesota starter Jake Odorizzi, the Rangers kept padding their lead, and with today’s 9-6 win over the Twins, Texas has now won for a seventh consecutive game.

These seven victories in a row come directly after the Rangers had lost a season-high seven straight. The Rangers have won seven straight but have played .500 ball over the last two weeks. *Michael Jordan shrugging at Magic Johnson while Cliff Robinson looks on dejectedly dot gif*

Player of the Game: Considering renaming the Player of the Game the Shin-Soo Choo On Base Streak Monitor but today is about celebrating the heart and soul of baseball as Adrian Beltre went 3-for-5 to collect his 3,100th hit and hit his 466th career dinger to surpass Miguel Cabrera all-time and inch closer to Chipper Jones’ 468 career bombs for third all-time among primary third basemen.

In case you’re curious, Choo did reach base — twice in fact — to extend his streak to 36.

Up Next: The Rangers will have a tougher go of it in the finale against Minnesota if they want to complete a second straight sweep and win their eighth straight. While Bartolo Colon will start for Texas, the Twins will counter with young up-and-coming TORP Jose Berrios. First pitch from Target Field is once again set for 1:10 pm CT.