Eight games. Eight wins.
The Rangers had a very good homestand. You can’t do any better than perfect.
Add the win they got in San Diego the last day of the road trip, and that’s nine in a row.
It’s the Rangers’ longest winning streak since 2011. You may recall what happened that year.
The ice-cold offense is coming to life.
Choo took his average from .243 to .267. DeSheilds from .238 to .270. Lucky from .214 to .274. Mazara .231 to .265. Napoli Hoying from .000 to .450. And Elvis proved he has been the most consistently reliable hitter by having a .280 average when the streak started and a .284 right now.
Napoli, Odor and Gallo are still trying to find their footing. Hovering under the Mendoza line. But with Gallo, that is to be expected. He is a true three-outcome hitter. Home run, strike out or walk. That’s what he does.
The offense wasn’t all that turned it around. The criminally negligent bullpen has been managed. And the sloppy defense has settle down.
Through it all, the starting pitching didn’t skip a beat.
The streak started with A.J. Griffin throwing a complete game shutout. Proving again that good things happen when you let starting pitchers pitch. Proving again that good things happen when you let starting pitchers pitch. Proving again that good things happen when you let starting pitchers pitch.
So, the Rangers head into Detroit to play the Tigers, who represent the first team the Rangers have played that was above .500 in the past thirteen games.
They were 10-3 in those games.
And the Rangers head into Detroit with the longest winning streak in major league baseball this year.
So far.
*****
TODAY’S GAME:
Nick Martinez (0-2, 5.04) vs. Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.34)
Game time: 6:10
How the Rangers hit against Norris.
How the Tigers hit against Martinez.