Just when it looked like a monumentally devastating loss, the Rangers pulled it out in the end. It was the most unlikely of failures and the most unlikely of successes.

Jacob Latz breezed through the first six innings of his first real Rangers start, not counting as an opener. Dominating is the better word to use. He hadn’t allowed a hit, and walked just two batters, one of which was erased by a double play. So, he had faced one over the minimum heading into the seventh. And the Rangers had a 4-0 lead. Everyone knows that when the Rangers score at least four runs, they win almost every time. No team in baseball has a better record.

When Latz allowed the first two runners to reach in the bottom of the seventh, including the Orioles first hit, he was replaced by Chris Martin, who has mostly been reliable. Mostly. Not yesterday. He gave up a home run to the first batter he faced. A home run to the second batter he faced. And a home run to the third batter he faced. That was enough batters for him to face and he was promptly removed. 

When the home run derby had ended, the Rangers 4-0 lead had evaporated into a 5-4 deficit. Then the Rangers did something totally unusual. They came back in the late innings. They never do that. They’re usually home in bed before the final out is recorded.

But they tied it in the eighth then won it in the tenth, both runs scored by playing small ball. Sam Haggarty walked in the eighth, stole second, then on the very next pitch, stole third, then came home on a sacrifice fly. 

In the ninth, Evan Carter started the inning at second. Was wild pitched to third and scored on a ground ball to the right side of the infield. 

And just like that the Rangers survived their monumental collapse.

It is not known whether Chris Martin will accept an inviation to pitch to hitters in this year’s Home Run Derby. 

*****