12-8 - Rangers avoid laying an egg in 11-10 series-clinching victory over Astros

Here are the instances since I watched a Texas Rangers baseball game for the first time ever in 1991 that the Rangers have been at least 12-8 through 20 games:

1996: (13-7) - AL West champs

1997: (12-8) - Disappointing third place

1998: (13-7) - AL West champs

2004: (12-8) - In the race until the last week

2011: (13-7) - World Series

2012: (15-5) - Wild Card

2013: (13-7) - Game 163

2014: (12-8) - LOL

With the win today, these Rangers join that club. As you can see, if for no other reason than that 2014 team being among them, going at least 12-8 through 20 games doesn’t guarantee anything. However, that this team is doing this so far has been incredibly entertaining in a year where entertainment wasn’t a given.

Texas finished out their homestand going 6-2 against their AL West rivals and are now 10-4 on the year at our beautiful Ballpark. Also, the Houston Astros are 11-4 this season against the rest of baseball but 2-4 against the Texas Rangers.

Player of the Game: In his 1337th appearance at the plate as a big leaguer, Joey Gallo hit the first sacrifice fly of his career proving forever and always that he is LEET! Also, Gallo hit a triple and had five RBIs while only 11 players in the entire sport are currently ahead of him in wRC+ so far this season, so, you know, he is legitimately elite in 2019.

Up Next: The Rangers are finished at home for a while as they head out to the west coast to begin a series in Oakland against the Athletics. Mike Minor is set to take the mound for Texas in the opener against RHP Chris Bassitt for the A’s. Monday’s first pitch from Oakland Coliseum is scheduled for 9:07 pm CT.