Texas Rangers: 5 subtle moments that made a significant impact on the ALDS

Game 2, top of the 2nd, no outs, Lowe leads off with Baltimore leading 2 to 0

Game two was filled with offensive sparks for the Rangers, but the man in the midst of quite a dry spell was probably responsible for sparking both of the biggest Texas rallies. In the bottom of the first, Baltimore put together a clinic on working a pitcher, forcing Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery to issue a heavy supply of pitches.

After the Rangers had squandered an opportunity in the first with two men on and no outs as well as a chance with the bases loaded and two outs, the Orioles did not return the favor. They worked Montgomery for 32 pitches in the bottom half, loading the bases and delivering with a two-out two-run single. It would mark the first lead in the series for Baltimore. If they wanted to stay in the game and remain competitive, the Rangers needed an answer. Enter the struggling Lowe, who was just batting .214 on the postseason with three hits in 14 at bats.

With O's starter Grayson Rodriguez clearly attempting to work Lowe high and tight, Lowe refused the first pitch. The second came in towards the top of the zone and over the middle, which he fouled off. After the third pitch missed up and in, he fouled off the fourth pitch. The fifth missed in almost exactly the same spot, but Lowe held off this time. Then the sixth came in even tighter and Lowe ignored it to draw a six pitch walk.

The significance of this at bat came in the fact that the Rangers hitters had already worked Rodriguez for 27 pitches in the first. Lowe's patience set the tone for what would be the first huge Texas inning of game two and render Baltimore's first lead of the series to also be their last.

Lowe's refusal to make an out on six straight four-seamers opened the floodgates, which ultimately led to an early departure for Rodriguez. However, not before he would allow a single to Jung and then a game-tying two-run double to Leody Taveras. Mitch Garver, García and Heim would then drive in runs as well to finish Rodriguez's ledger for the evening and put the Rangers out front at 5 to 2.

We should mention at this point that Garver dealt the back-breaking blow one inning later with the second grand slam in Rangers postseason history. While that in-and-of-itself was monumental, the damage had already been done by that point. Nevertheless, Texas cruised to a big 11to 8 victory that wasn't nearly as close as the score led everyone to believe.

Next: Moment 5