Just one year ago today. It seems like longer.

MINOR MASTERFUL AGAIN.

The five-game losing streak started with Mike Minor’s dud in Oakland, a 6-1 loss in which he gave up four earned runs in six innings.

That was on the heels of his complete game shutout gem.

But last night the ace of the staff did what an ace should do. He stopped the skid. Sure, he started the skid. But you can’t expect perfection. Even gods have off days.

Minor tied the Rangers franchise record for strikeouts by a left-hander with thirteen. Seven looking. He mixed his pitches masterfully.

It helped that he started with a 3-0 lead, and that the Mariners defense was sponsored by WikiLeaks.

Minor just got the ball and went to work. An Edwin Encarnacion home run in the first was all the damage against his ledger. What makes last night’s gem even more impressive was he did it to the highest scoring team in baseball.

After five depressing road losses in a row, the Rangers offense came to life. Like, really to life. Twenty hits. Fifteen runs. Seven doubles. Three home runs. It was total dominance on both sides of the field.

As it turns out, Mike Minor could have given up fourteen runs to win. He gave up only one.