Three Thoughts on Rangers at D-Backs, Gm 4
Rangers get bad news and then take the field to create their good news.
The Texas Rangers have continued their incredible run of form away from home with a massive 11-7 win in Arizona on Tuesday Night to pull within one game of their first ever World Series Title. They have taken a three games to one advantage over Arizona and now get three shots at baseball immortality, starting with Game 5 on Wednesday.
These are my Three Thoughts:
– This team continues to make you feel that this year, they might very well be that team. A team is more than a few guys who do all the heavy lifting. A team is a collection of guys who all make a contribution and pull on the rope or row the boat – whatever metaphor you prefer. But, each guy has a role and looks forward to helping. Sure, there are big pieces and smaller pieces, but it is a team that demonstrates its full value by depth and strength in numbers. See the 2023 Rangers.
They have had a knack again and again to have someone different do their job when someone goes down. So, after losing Adolis Garcia and Max Scherzer in Game 3, the public held their breath to get positive news from the medical staff. They did not and both players were taken off the roster before Game 4. Horrible news and perhaps the feeling was that this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. How do you replace your month-long best bat and most decorated starting pitcher?
Well, by everyone taking their turn. Tonight was absolutely Texas Rangers baseball under Bruce Bochy and a team that grinds harder when they lose pieces. We have seen it all the way back to Jacob DeGrom’s Tommy John surgery.
This Game 4 was just a wonderful example of what this is all about. Josh Jung started smashing line drives again. Marcus Semien started looking like a power hitter again. Andrew Heaney took the ball and replicated his best starts of the year. Travis Jankowski was making plays at the plate and in the field. Jonah Heim was throwing out a base stealer and then hitting a home run.
That is why this team might turn into THE team that Texas has always dreamed of having. Instead of weak spots, they have strength in numbers and a fortified group that is eager to chip in.
“Who is going to be the hero tonight without Adolis?”
Hands were raised all around the clubhouse. And yes, Corey Seager put his hand up again, too.