Want to know something wild? If the season ended today, the Rangers would not only be a participant in the playoffs, they would play a home playoff game at The Ballpark as they are now tied for the first Wild Card spot in the American League with the team they beat 5-0 tonight. That feels insane to type.
It is true, however, and tonight’s game against the Rays kind of evoked positive memories of the 2010 ALDS when the Rangers coupled their ferociously aggressive style on the basepaths with spectacular starting pitching at the top of the rotation to beat the favored Rays for their first ever playoffs series win in franchise history.
There’s just something about The Trop that shuts off the stop sign in the minds of Rangers when they reach base and it makes for some wacky, memorable baseball.
Player of the Game: Playing the part of Cliff Lee tonight was Lance Lynn who continues to shove with the Rangers as the American League’s fWAR leader. Tonight, Lynn allowed just three hits in eight shutout innings of work while walking one and striking out ten Rays.
Rangers starters have now allowed just one earned run in 30 1⁄3 innings of work on this road trip.
Up Next: The Rangers and Rays are back at it again Saturday afternoon with RHP Adrian Sampson set to make the start for Texas against LHP Brendan McKay making his MLB debut for Tampa Bay. First pitch from The Trop is scheduled for 3:10 pm CT.