Not the same, but close.

Six years ago, the Rangers had three consecutive walk-off wins against the Angels.

In the first game of that series, they came from down 3-0 in the fifth. They scored one in the sixth, then another one in the eighth. A.J. Pierzynski led off the ninth with a home run. Geovani Soto ended the ninth with a home run.

The next night, the Angels had an 11-7 lead late. Three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth tied it. A Leonys Martin home run in the bottom of the eleventh won it.

Texas made it three for three the next night, with Adrian Beltre hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth to win it.

Somehow, breaking the hearts of the Angels just feels much more satisfying than any other team. But without Mike Scioscia in the other dugout wearing the defeat on his face, it’s not quite as sweet.

With three walk-off wins in four games, the Rangers came close to pulling off the heartbreak. Unlike that time, though, they didn’t do it with a home run. They did it with scrappiness and a huge dose of luck.

A check swing infield single from Isiah Kiner-Falefa that hung up long enough to let the winning run score. Then an error off the bat of Nick Solak to allow the winning run to score. Then a single, two wild pitches, and a single by Hunter Pence to drive in the winning run. 

That’s nine walk-offs total this year.

This team is so much more fun to watch when they play the remedial teams.

*****

TODAY’S GAME:

Ariel Jurado (6-9, 5.38) vs. Ross Detwiler (1-3, 6.10)

Game time: 7:10