Defense matters.

That has been said about a million times the past four seasons of Rangers futility. 

Hopefully someone from the Rangers front office, or better yet ownership, watched Tampa Bay last night. They made a game-saving defensive gem almost every inning.

Defensive wizard Kevin Kiermaier robbed Alex Bregman of a home run in the bottom of the first.

Then, with two on and two out in the bottom of the third, and the Rays trailing 1-0, Kiermaier made a diving catch on a Carlos Correa hit to save two more runs. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Jose Altuve smacked a ball deep into the hole at short that Rays shortstop Willie Adames somehow got to and threw him out.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Rays pitcher John Curtiss made a circus play to throw out Gurriel.

Later in the inning, with one on, Hunter Refroe made an amazing diving catch to rob George Springer of extra-bases and an RBI. Springer slammed his helmet in frustration.

Then, with the game on the line, the score 5-2, bases loaded, and one out, Kyle Tucker dropped a hit into shallow center that Renfroe, again, made a running diving sliding Hail Mary catch to put the dagger in the Astros heart.

Tampa Bay won 5-2. They stole at least five runs from Houston.

Defense matters.

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TODAY’S GAMES:

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