And just like that, the Rangers season is resurrected. Left for dead after being shutout Friday night by the Dodgers and having managed just two hits Saturday afternoon, the Rangers entered the ninth inning looking hopeless.

Through the first seven innings, eight of their nine starters were hitless. Kyle Higashioka had the only two hits, one a two-run homer that thankfully kept them close as another masterful start by Nathan Eovaldi kept them in the game. 

This was shaping up to be another game where the pitching kept them close, but the anemic offense couldn’t seal the deal.

Until super-sub Josh Smith led off the bottom of the ninth with a double off last-year’s Rangers super-closer Kirby Yates. But Rangers fans are used to getting their hopes dashed this year. Then Adolis Garcia came up and made it all wonderful. With the count 1-1, he hit a fastball deep in left center for the Rangers first walk-off homer of the year. 

It was the Rangers second walk-off win, the other an April 6 win over Tamps Bay was also sparked by a Josh Smith double 

It’s too much to expect all nine hitters in a lineup to be hot at the same time. But all it takes is a couple. 

Let’s hope this is the start of Garcia getting hot. And maybe Marcus Semien’s eighth inning single starts to stir some life in his bat.

This team has been winning with no offense. Imagine what it can do if the bats come around.

*****

*****