Bartolo Colon retired the first twenty-one Houston Astros he faced last night.

He walked Carlos Correa to lead off the eighth inning to lose the perfect game. Then Josh Reddick doubled to end the no-hitter. Then Yuli Gurriel scored Correa with a sac fly to end the shutout.

But Colon was brilliant nonetheless.

After being swept by the best team in baseball, the Rangers were in bad need of a break and they got it with the Houston Astros, who haven’t been great since they won the World Series way back in 2017.

Baseball has a funny way of evening things out.

Bartolo Colon was an afterthought. He was signed for one reason only. To make one start in place of Martin Perez.

He made it. Then he was released.

Fortunately desperation set in. So the Rangers re-signed him.

Jon Daniels, who is a good general manager other than his inability to evaluate talent and build a roster, reluctantly kept the only starting pitcher that has been great.

If not for a hip injury to Doug Fister, Colon would be long gone.

But the Rangers caught a break. Colon pitched a gem. Robinson Chirinos drove in all three runs. And Texas has a winning streak. An honest-to-goodness bonafide winning streak.

It wasn’t a perfect game. But it was baseball played perfectly. Rangers fans will take that.

*****
TODAY’S GAME:

Martin Perez (1-1, 11.88) vs. Blake Snell (1-1, 3.60)
Game time: 6:10

Snell has never faced the Rangers.
How the Rays hit against Perez.