Texas Rangers: Magic Number Remains At 2

So do we remember when the Texas Rangers lost a one run game, cause it was to these same L.A. Angels back on September 11th 2-3. This is fine, the champagne showers can now happen after a win instead of on an off day.

The Texas Rangers lose to the L.A. Angels in a game that they never led in. But there was a sense that the Rangers were going to come back again when Carlos Beltran got the Rangers within 1 in the 5th with a 2 shot homer.

The Rangers did not have a chance to clinch the division because the Astros won earlier in the day and the magic number remains at 2. The earliest they will be able to clinch the division now will be Friday when they face the Oakland A’s.

Derek Holland had an outing of 5 innings allowing 6 hits, 5 runs scored (4 earned), while only striking out 3 all on 71 pitches. The Angels starter Jared Weaver got his 3rd win against the Rangers this year, pitching 6 innings while allowing 6 hits, 4 runs scored, and 6 strikeouts on 95 pitches.

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Both teams scored all of their runs on the other teams starting pitcher. At one point the Rangers bullpen retired 8 batters in a row, 3 of which were the heart of the Angels lineup that Tanner Scheppers retired. While the bullpen did their job, Ranger hitters attempted to do their best but could not get another run home even in the 9th with Elvis Andrus on 2nd base with 2 outs in the 9th.

Tanner Scheppers has to be the shining performance of the night AGAIN. Scheppers had his longest relief outing of his career with a 2.1 inning showing, he didn’t allow a hit and had one walk while striking out a batter all on 23 pitches. These numbers give him 7 games played this year 6 total innings, only allowing 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and 3 strikeouts. I understand these numbers don’t jump off of the page but they do when you are a player coming back from injury.

The Texas Rangers have to hold off on the champagne showers for now but I think it would be appreciated more to clinch the division after a win then to do it on an off day. That is exactly what the Rangers will be attempting to do Friday. Magic number is still 2 with any combination of Ranger wins and Astros losses.

Next: Texas Rangers Looking Forward to Texas Live!

The Rangers are still attempting to hold off the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red sox for home field advantage. They only have a 1 game lead on the indians and a 1.5 game lead on the Red Sox.

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