Texas Rangers: Top 5 Moments from the first half

The Rangers are officially half-way through the schedule. They came up just short of 50 wins with a loss on Thursday afternoon to the Detroit Tigers. They are in first place at this point for the first time since 2016. They have survived losing their high-paid shortstop for a month and have persevered through losing their ace pitcher for the rest of the season. This team has really come together to be one of the best teams in baseball. Before we get started with the second half and the huge series with the Houston Astros that starts on Friday, I want to look back at the best five moments of the first half of the season.

Opening Day Rally against the Phillies

A sell out crowd was in attendance back on March 30th for Opening Day against the defending NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Jacob deGrom was handed the ball in his first start in a Rangers uniform. He went up against Aaron Nola. deGrom while good, did run into issues and was removed in the fourth inning with the score 4-0. Cole Ragans came in and promptly gave up a double to allow the inherited runner to score and it was 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth fans were given their first glimpse on how powerful this lineup was going to be.

It was a 9-run fourth inning rally that saw 12 hitters come to the plate, there were seven hits, including a three-run home run from Robbie Grossman, and two walks. They ended up scoring 11 runs on the day and won the game and swept the series from Philadelphia. It was an eye-opening series that set the tone for what was to come after that.

Marcus Semien's sends a ball for a ride in Houston

The Rangers and Astros have only played one series against each other this season and that was back in April in Houston. The Rangers entered that weekend having not won a series at Minute Maid Park since 2018. It has become a house of horrors for the Rangers since then. They had their chance to show a national audience on ESPN that this start was for real. In the seventh inning with the Rangers leading 2-0 Marcus Semien came through with the big hit.

The Rangers ended up winning 9-1 and ending their streak of losing series in Houston and handed a loss to Framber Valdez. It was a statement to the Astros and to the rest of baseball that the Rangers are here and they are not going anywhere. Since then they have grown their division lead from 1.5 games to 5.0 games over Houston.

Adolis Garcia saves the City Connect uniforms with an all-time performance.

The Rangers debuted their new City Connect uniforms on Friday, April 21st. It was a well thought out unveiling of the uniforms that had been in the making for several months. The team finally got to wear them on April 21st and ended up losing that night 5-4 to the Oakland A's. The team long before had decided to make it a two-night debut. So they wore the Peagle uniforms again on Saturday, April 22nd. That was the night Adolis Garcia went nuclear and destroyed everything in his path.

Garcia was 5-5 on the night with three home runs, two doubles, and eight RBIs. He nearly tied Pudge Rodriguez's team record of nine RBI's in a single game. It will go down as one of the best individual performances in Texas Rangers' history. The Rangers would go on to win the game 18-3 and the City Connect uniforms would be tied to greatness instead of losing.

Grant Anderson saves the bullpen

The Texas Rangers bullpen has been inconsistent to say the least. They started off with a 20+ inning scoreless streak, then went through a stretch where they could not close out games. In late April to mid-May nearly every game the Rangers' lost was tied back to the bullpen. They were swept in Cincinnati and the bullpen played a part in each loss. The team needed someone to step up. In late May Grant Anderson was promoted from Round Rock. The 25-year old reliever was being given a shot to earn a role. He had a debut that fans will never forget and one that has kept him on the team.

He ended his night having pitched 2 2/3 innings, striking out seven Detroit Tigers, walking none, and giving up no runs. The Rangers ended up winning the game 10-6. It was like a breath of fresh air for the bullpen. The now 26-year old Anderson since then has locked down a role as one of Bruce Bochy's late-inning relievers. He is not returning to the minors anytime soon.

Honorable Mention

Corey Seager's 5-5 game against Tampa Bay.

The Rangers had the showcase series during the second weekend in the June against the league-leading Tampa Bay Rays. They lost the first game of the series 8-3. Seager made sure they would not lose the second game. He was 5-5 on the night with a home run, a double, and three singles. The Rangers won 8-4 that night as Seager put on a show for the Rays' fans.

Duran go-ahead home-run against Detroit

This one happened on Tuesday night. The Rangers were on a three-game losing streak, had been losing 2-0 earlier in the game, and were in danger of losing their fourth straight game. 2nd-year sensation Ezequiel Duran made sure that was not going to happen. He hit a solo home run in the eighth inning that opened up the floodgates. The at-bat was detailed back in this article. His home run got it all started and saved the Rangers from another loss.

The Rangers now enter the final 81 games that will be full of challenges as this team tries to do something they have not done since 2016, have a winning record and make the playoffs. There will be twists and turns as the team makes its way through the dog days of summer and into the pennant race. When we get done with the season hopefully there are many more unforgettable moments that will be added to the end-of-season list.