A win is a win. Even an ugly win.

But what do you read into yesterday’s win? Did Spencer Howard turn a corner? This was the first time as a Ranger he had seen the fifth inning from the playing field, which is pitiful considering he’s started eleven games. It’s his first win as a Ranger as well. 

An a win is a win. But coming into yesterday’s game, the Oakland Athletics had a team batting average of .209. The lowest team batting average in baseball history was the Chicago White Sox of 1910 with a miniscule .211 team average.

The Athletics came into Arlington as the worst hitting team of all time. No wonder Spencer Howard looked good against them. With all due respect, Moe Howard would have looked good against them. 

So, the fact that Kolby Allard entered the game in the eighth and allowed this popgun offense four hits and five runs speaks volumes about Allard, and why he has been shuffled back to the minor leagues three times already. That’s where he belongs. 

The good news is, even allowing this anemic offense twelve hits and eight runs, the Rangers still won, thanks in part to an inside-the-park made dash home run by Josh Smith, and some steady, relentless offense by the entire lineup. Leodys Taveras picked up three more hits to raise his average to .317.  

Congratulations to Spencer Howard on his first win as a Texas Rangers starting pitcher. Even Mark Clark, who Howard is battling it out for as worst starter in Rangers history, got three wins each in both his historically bad seasons in Texas. 

Howard, who pitched five scoreless innings and yet his ERA is still 8.04, has something to shoot for. 

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