Joey Gallo hit the Rangers second mammoth home run in two days.

With the game on the line, Mike Napoli the tying run at second, and no outs, the game called for the runner to be bunted to third. That way a sac fly, a ground ball to the right side of the infield, or even a wild pitch, could score the tying run.

Doing what the game tells you to do is what two-time World Series manager Ron Washington would say.

Rangers manager Jeff Banister chose to let Rougned Odor swing away.

He struck out.

Jurickson Profar, the one-time number one prospect in all of baseball, stepped up to the plate. He needed a single now rather than just a roller to first or second.

He struck out.

That brought up Joey Gallo, who earlier brought the Rangers within one run with a mammoth two-run homer to right, and later dropped a singled into right, was looking to make the most of his surprise opportunity at playing time.

He struck out.

And just like that the Rangers start 0-2.

Maybe things would have been different had they not poked the baseball gods in the eyes. Maybe Indians closer Cody Allen pitches Profar differently in that situation and Profar hits a dribbler to second and DeShields, pinch running for Napoli, scampers home for the tying run. Maybe they could have orchestrated another amazing come-from-behind victory that they thrilled us all with last year.

But they didn’t let the game dictate the strategy. And they didn’t come away with a win.

Those things often go hand in hand.

*****
TODAY’S GAME:

Danny Salazar (11-6, 3.87) vs. Cole Hamels (15-5, 3.32)
Game time: 7:05

How the Indians hit against Hamels.
How the Rangers hit against Salazar.