Rangers series has big implications

Everyone realizes how big the comeback game against the Angels was a few games ago. This series against the Tigers had many more implications about where the Rangers are headed. Let’s take a look back and see what we find.

Game one. Not much went well for the Rangers, Scott Feldman’s win streak ended and Nelson Cruz had another error which lead to Tanner Scheppers giving up a inside the park home run. It wasn’t all bad however. Scott Feldman was pitching well into the sixth inning, and Josh Hamilton hit his 31st home run. Game two would prove to be much more dramatic. Derek Holland had a needed turnaround game in a duel with Justin Verlander. Holland gave up only 3 hits with a season high 9 strikeouts. The two had pitched a 1-1 game into the late innings. Then the 9th came when the Rangers had just about stranded the first two batters aboard. Ron Washington decided to pinch-hit Mike Olt, who had just recently had been called up from double-a, for Mitch Moreland. Olt showed poise in the long at bat and came through with a walk off base hit.

” Olt said. “I was trying to hit something hard on the ground. … It’s something I’m going to build off. I’ve had some bumps along the road, so this will help

Today we had game three. This game was controlled by the Rangers the whole way. Yu Darvish had the game he was looking for and just about the Rangers entire lineup got evolved in the win. Yu attacked the strike zone and had command over his pitches. The 5 walks looked like Yu of recent but he struck out 8 and received only his second win since the All-Star break. Hamilton chipped in his 32nd home run with RBI number 99. The Rangers took advantage of errors and cruised to a 2-1 series win.

With this series win, what implications can we take from it moving forward? First, the starting pitching is stepping up. The two pitchers the Rangers needed to come alive, look like they have. With Scott Feldman pitching well the staff seems to be getting back to where they need to be. Second, Hamilton has woke up and with him so have the Rangers offense. They have continued their success since the “turnaround game” against the Angels. With a 5.5 game lead over the Athletics playoffs seem inevitable. With that, the main thing to take away is the Rangers are poised to make a run at their third World Series appearance.