After surrendering a lead off home run, then six more runs in the following four innings, Yu Darvish dropped his lifetime mark to 2-9 against the Athletics.

Rangers fans have seen some pretty remarkable comebacks this season, and particularly in the past week.

But nothing like these:

On August 21, 1990, the Los Angeles Dodgers took an 11-1 lead into the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies score two runs that nobody cared about in the top of the eighth inning to make it 11-3.

But in the top of the ninth, they got a walk, an error, two singles, a fly out, another walk, another error, a double, a home run, a single, a double and a sac fly. When the top of the ninth ended, nine runs had scored and the Phillies led 12-11.

On June 8, 1989, the Pirates scored ten runs in the top of the first against those same Phillies. It prompted Pirates radio broadcaster Jim Rooker to say, “If we don’t win this one, I am walking back to Pittsburgh.”

By the sixth inning, it was 11-10, Pittsburgh. The Phillies scored five runs in the bottom of the eight to win 15-11.

And the ultimate comeback happened way back on June 15, 1925. The Cleveland Indians led the Philadelphia Athletics 14-2, then 15-4 after seven innings. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, after a leadoff walk, the Athletics let their pitcher hit, figuring it didn’t matter. He flew out to right.

Two walks and six hits followed. The pitcher came to bat again. This time he was lifted for a pinch hitter, who singled. Three more hits and a home run later, Philadelphia scored thirteen runs to stun the Indians and win 17-15.

On August 5, 2001, Seattle was up 12-0 against Cleveland by the fourth inning. By the seventh, it was 14-2. Suddenly Cleveland scored three in the seventh, four in the eighth, and five in the ninth to tie it, then one in the eleventh to win it.

And earlier this year, on June 2, the Padres led the Mariners 12-2, and lost 16-13.

So, when Yu Darvish cratered early by putting the team in another huge hole, and when the Rangers limped into the ninth inning down 11-2, it was worth looking up the greatest comebacks in MLB history.

If any team could do it, it would be these Rangers.

But it’s asking too much to do it night after night after night.

*****
TODAY’S GAME:

Ross Detwiler (1-3, 5.31) vs. Colby Lewis (6-2, 3.31)
Game time: 2:05

How the Athletics hit against Lewis.
How the Rangers hit against Detwiler.

RANGERS MAGIC NUMBER: 5