The Rangers September to Remember continues with their fifth consecutive win, and seventh win out of ten games in the month.

After beating the New York Mets 8-3 last night, Texas is 6-1 against three playoff-contending teams in this stretch.

The usual unusual heroes stepped up again. With the Rangers up two runs in the first because of Mets starter Jonah Tong’s wildness, Cody Freeman came up with the bases loaded and two outs. It was the same situation in which the Rangers would strike out or hit a weak pop up for much of the season. 

Instead, team sparkplug Cody Freeman singled in two runs to turn a 2-0 lead into a 4-0 lead and make a big inning. 

Next, team MVP Michael Helman doubled in two more, giving the Rangers an early 6-0 lead that effectively took the Mets out of the game.

It helped because Jacob deGrom was strong stumbled in the third, giving up three runs. But those would be the only runs he would give up in seven innings.

The story of the game, and really of this amazing run the Rangers are on, is their sudden ability to score with two outs. All six first inning runs came after two were out. Had the Rangers been able to do this the entire season, they’d be leading the West by ten games. 

The two teams leading the west, though, Houston and Seattle, both won as well, so the Rangers remain two games out with fourteen left to play. 

At least they’re finally playing enjoyable baseball. 

Took them long enough.

*****