In the better late than never category, Game 161 might have been the most fun game of the season. Just as the season is ending, Rangers fans get a reminder of the joy of baseball.

Down 8-3 in the sixth inning of a meaningless game of a hapless season, the Rangers rallied from behind to score two in the eighth, then stun the Angels with four in the ninth.

It took a lot of Angels benevolence. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. 

Then Lowe walked in an epic eleven-pitch at-bat to make it 8-6. It was then you realized, this is going to happen. Lowe broke their spirit.

Jonathan Ornelas broke their hearts. He poked a single to right to tie it, then the Angels outfielder threw to the cutoff man he must have thought was standing in Mexico. The throw went sailing somewhere in the night as Nathanial Lowe came around to score the winning run.

Six runs in the final two innings, including four in the ninth. Even meaningless games can be fun. The next-to-last game of the season may have been the best one yet.

*****  
TODAY’S GAME: