The Rangers salvaged one game out of the three in Atlanta. That’s actually a good thing. Beating Atlanta is hard, the Braves are the best team, by far, in baseball. 

The best part was, when it looked like the Rangers would fold, they actually got back up, dusted themselves off, and thrived. Instead of falling three games in a row, and following under .500 for the first time in Bruce Bochy’s Texas Rangers career, the Rangers fought back. It was conforting to see.

Down 3-0 after five batters, it looked like another one of those frustrating games the Rangers have played this season. Mostly, it’s been on an offense that is not clicking.

But, last night, the offense clicked. And Michael Lorenzen stepped up and refused to lose.

Texas went through the first three innings in anemic fashion. Two hits, both runners stranded at first. But when Evan Carter homered to lead off the fourth, suddenly life was breathed into the Rangers. Coming into tonight’s game, Carter had two hits the last seven days. He was struggling.

Breaking out of his slump seemed to ignite the Rangers. Lowe and Smith singled, and backup catcher Andrew Knizner hit a three-run homer to put the Rangers on top 4-3. 

That home run gave them more than a lead. It gave them hope, and confidence, and, dare we say, swagger. Texas went on to win 6-4 in what could well be a preview to October.

Later, in the eighth inning, Carter got the first hit of his major league career off a left-handed pitcher. He had been 0-for-20 up to that point. It was a tiny little infield hit. But, sometimes, that’s all you need to get going.

Let’s hope this ignites the offense that has been so dormant the past two weeks. 

Let’s hope Carter and Langford and Seager snap out of their slumps. And that the Rangers use this impressive come-from-behind victory as a springboard to a long, sustained run.

Sometimes, all it takes is one small spark. Maybe Carter breaking out of his funk is that spark.

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