Rangers lineup wakes up.


Johan Heim breaks out of a slump with a game-tying 3-run HR in the 4th.

The Rangers got offensive support from the most unlikely sources last night: from the Rangers lineup.

Down 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, after having given up two runs in the top of the inning, it appeared to be another game where the Rangers hibernating offense was going to be able to overcome a meager three-run deficit.

Up to that point, they had had two singles and a walk but been unable to do anything with it, as usual. 

They even had a couple on and two outs in the bottom of the fourth, and nothing would have been more expected than to leave runners on.

Expect that didn’t happen. Out of thin air, Jonah Heim launched a home run to right field that tied the game, and Leody Taveras drove a pitch over the right field wall himself to take the lead. 

And when Jose Leclerc turned right around and let the first two Red Sox reach in the top of the fifth, it looked like another frustrating 2024 Rangers effort.

But newly acquired reliever/biker Andrew Chafin got the Rangers out of the jam.

Texas scored three more run in the sixth, which is about what they score per game, and cruised to a 7-4 win. 

It was only the Rangers third win after the All-Star break in eleven tries (not counting the four gift wins against the White Sox, who have now lost nineteen straight).

It’s great to see. A bit too little too late, but great to see.

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