Huge series with the Angels

[FWHORN]

Rangers ninth inning win today combined with the Angels tenth inning loss gives Texas a four game lead in the west. The next four are at the second place Angels. This series cant win the west but could help begin to put a stranglehold on it. In all there are seven games with LAA over next three weeks and that should about determine where things will fall out.

So getting it started early

LETS GO RANGERS

 

[HornHuskerDad]

The Rangers win/Angles loss combo today was huge. As FWHORN noted, it takes the lead to four full games going into Anaheim. Win all four or three of the four and there's the start of a stranglehold on the AL West. Split the four and the Rangers leave Anaheim with the same four-game lead - meanwhile, the clock would have ticked down on the Angels.

The pressure is definitely on the Angels. When this four-game set is over, there will be only 37 games remaining in the season, and the Angles/Rangers head-to-head series will be down to six (three at each ballpark).

Let's get all the Rangers zealots working on a batch of winning mojo!

HHD

 

[Rex Kramer]

Our goal should be to take 2. Remember we are not the best road team. But 2 or more is achievable with our starting pitching looking much better this week, and Feliz has looked better.

 

[Rex Kramer]

By the way we have a brutal stretch coming up with the Angels, at the White Sox (who are a horrible home team), and Red Sox and Rays - both at home and on road. Nonetheless I have us going 24-17 the rest of the way to finish 93-69. I cannot see the Angels playing 28-14 ball to beat us out. This 4-game lead is exactly the kind of separation we need. Got to get 2 in LA.

 

[Dewbrewer]

Lookin' good so far in game 1. And with the Angels' starter getting injured super early, their bullpen is having to eat up a bunch of innings.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Final: Rangers 8, Angels 4. 1 down, 3 to go.

 

[Horn69]

4-game series are huge. We go in 4 games up and the range at the end can be tied all the up to 8 games. Best news afer tonight's win, we'll walk out of LA wth at least a 2 game lead. Each win is worth 2 games.

Hook'em!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Good start to the series in Anaheim - very good effort by Ogando and a lot of timely hitting. Now let's continue the mojo for Derek Holland tonight - taking the first two in their stadium would definitely crank up the pressure on the Halos.

HHD

 

[FWHORN]

Good start, would be great to take at least two more in Anaheim.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Rangers take Game 2: 7-3.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Very nice job by Derek Holland. Sets a good path for C.J. to follow tomorrow.

HHD

 

[Horn69]

Ripping and rolling. Will be no worse than 4-up leaving LALA Land.

Hook'em!!!

 

[FWHORN]

Huge chance now to take series, today is important as Weaver is on mound tomorrow for Angels.

 

[scharnell]

I am more concerned with Santana today. He has found it the last month and is all but un-hittable (see his no-hitter). If Texas can rough up Santana, it may be the final straw for LAA after their "closed door" meeting last night.

 

[Rex Kramer]

The bats have been so on fire lately that individual pitchers don't concern me and frankly make it more interesting to watch. We only had 7 runs last night, but on 17 hits. We also had a ton of hits Monday.

 

[Alex_de_Large]

Kinsler breaks out of his funk with a bloop 2-run single in the 8th! Now for the new and improved bullpen to close it out.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Feliz allows a lead-off single and then retires 3 in a row on 2 ground outs and fly out, leaving the lead-off man at 3rd.

Rangers win Game 3-- 4-3.

Division lead is now 7 games and they go for the sweep tomorrow. Would love to see that happen, but would be happy with 3 out of 4.

 

[Crockett]

Gotta feel great moving ahead with the starting pitching pretty consistent and the back end of the bullpen all shored up. But pennant races are funny things. You can win 8 of 10 and fall back a little in the standings or go 4-6 and increase your lead. Baseball is not as predictable as football or even basketball.

 

[Horn69]

Ian, Ian he's the man, if he can't do it nobody can.

Great to not only see him get the clutch hit, but in the manner he did. Wasn't swinging for the fence, just making bat contact with 2 strikes. Great, great. And Feliz closing the door.

Now at worst R's will be 6 out leaving LAA. And there'll be only 37 games to play. If they play .500 ball the rest of the way, Angels will have to go 26-12 to catch them.

Hook'em!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Three down, one to go! A sweep in Anaheim would be terrific. But, as has already been mentioned, winning three of four in their backyard is outstanding - and may have been the door slamming in their face. Let's see what Colby can do in Game Four.

HHD

 

[FWHORN]

2 out of 4 was goal, 3 out of four means minimum six game lead and a win today puts an 8 game stranglehold on the west.

Rangers have a really tough stretch after today coming up with the Chisox, Red Sox, Rays, Indians and 6 more with Angels so this wouldnt be over but man this series has given some breathing room.

 

[WorsterMan]

3 of 4 so far and Angels pitcher Jerrad Weaver has been rusty... me thinks the Good Guys could take Thurs. PM game and get the you know what.

GO RANGERS!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

^WorsterMan, I certainly hope you're right. The mojo recipe we've used so far has been pretty effective. A SWEEP would be outstanding!!!!!

HHD

 

[WorsterMan]

Hey HHD - after big bat nights from the R's the last 3 nights, we got us an ol' fashioned 0-0 ptichers duel. Gotta keep the mistakes and errors to a minimum and work men on base into a run or 3.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Dang it. Mike Adams blows a save and gets the loss on a walk-off 2-run home run.

. Oh well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

RATS! A blown save with a two-run walkoff HR in bottom of nine to lose 2-1. Still, we all said that 3 of the 4 would be an excellent series, and the Rangers did just exactly that. Now they need to go on to Chicago and take care of the Sox before coming home.

BTW, Mrs. HHD and I have tickets for the Tuesday night game with the Red Sox (part of my mini-packages). Should be a terrific match-up - let's hope for a win by the Rangers.

HHD

 

[FWHORN]

3 out of 4 was huge, would have been nice to get the sweep but coming out of that series with a six game lead and being 6-1 to start a 10 game road trip cannot be under sold. The Rangers now enter a really tough stretch but have the breathing room to take a stumble or two and it not be disastrous.

 

[WorsterMan]

3 of 4 WAS huge vs. angels and Good Guys took game #1 7-4 vs. a very avg. w sox tonight is good news. Let's take at least 2 of 3 vs sox and bring it home to get series win vs rxos where HHD can get some serious mojo going Tues. night while he is at the game.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

With the Angels about to sweep the dog-butt Orioles and the ChiSox taking 2 of 3 this weekend, the Rangers promptly give up the cushion they gained by winning the series in Anahiem.

Tough week ahead for the Rangers. Before the Angels come to town next weekend, the good guys will play 4 games against the BoSox while the Angels get a 2-game set with the ChiSox (and 2 days off to boot). If I recall the Angels rotation, it looks like the Rangers will miss Santana and Weaver and draw Haren and the 4 & 5 starters. IMO, this week will give us the best indicator as to where this thing ends up.

 

[FWHORN]

Going into the ten game road trip I think anyone of us would have been happy with 7-3 and a 4 game lead coming out. It is too bad that a 6-0 start ended on a 1-3 skid.