Derek Holland strikes out Chris Davis to end the game and sweep the Orioles.

The Rangers sweep of Baltimore had a lot of ramifications, not the least of which it featured a totally dominating Derek Holland’s complete-game, eleven-strike-out, no-walk, three-hit shutout.

It was the Rangers third complete game of the year, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Colby Lewis having the other two. In the American League West, only the Angels have fewer complete games.

The Rangers got eleven hits, all singles, to push across six runs and puncture any wild card bubble the Baltimore Orioles may have thought they had.

With it, the Rangers raised their record to 68-61, the first time they have been seven games over .500 all season.

Speaking of .500, they are now even up at home. That seems just about impossible considering how pitiful this team played at the Ballpark in the first half of the season. The Rangers were 16-28 at home. Since then, 16-4.

Remarkable.

Also, yesterday’s win was one more than the Rangers got the entire 2014 season. The ghosts of last year have been buried, for sure.

Yesterday’s sweep of Baltimore was the fifth time the Rangers have swept a team this season. They have been swept four times.

Most important, yesterday’s win combined with the Astros loss puts the Rangers just three games out of first place.

The Rangers acquired a lot at the trade deadline. Like a bullpen, confidence, swagger, and an entirely different attitude.