A night to remember.


Finally: After 45 consecutive hitless at-bats, Justin Foscue can exhale, standing on second with an RBI double.

So, who had the better night last night in Texas’s 10-2 win over Baltimore?

Was it Bruce Bochy who had to use only one relief pitcher after four straight nights of a bullpen parade due to four consecutive extra-inning games?

Was it Jacob Latz, that relief pitcher, who threw three innings and earned his first major league save? 

Was it Alejandro Osuna, a likeable kid with a ball of energy, who lit up spring training and two levels of minor leagues by hitting everything hard, who led the Rangers in spring home runs and RBIs, who seemed a shoo-in to make the opening day roster, and who, like every other hitting on this roster, seemed to forgot how to hit once he put on a Rangers uniform? Last night, Osuna collected his first major league home run.

Was it Billy McKinney, the veteran outfielder who the Rangers signed to a minor league contract in late May and was just moved to the 40-man-roster when room was created when Tyler Mahle was transferred to the 60-day I.L., who went to Plano West high school, who was just called up to play for his hometown team, and who collected a hit in front of his family and friends?

Or was it Justin Foscue, who pinch hit for McKinney in the bottom of the eighth inning, bringing his unenviable 0-for-45 streak of hitless at-bats with him, and who dumped the third pitch he saw into left center for a double?

Going out on a very short limb, it would have to be Foscue, who had the oppressive weight of history, futility, and embarrassment gnawing at him, and stood there at second, proudly, relieved, no longer shrouded in darkness and doubt.

Congratulations to Jacob Latz, Alejandro Osuna, and Billy McKinney.

But mostly to Justin Foscue. The record for offensive futility (Chris Davis’s 0-for-54) will not be yours. Thankfully.

*****