Clinging to a one-run lead the Rangers pulled off another double steal that sparked a three-run seventh inning.

The Rangers followed the blue print for victories.

Have Darvish or Hamels pitch into the eight inning. Get a lead. Limit the bullpen.

The Rangers did all three to perfection last night and beat the Athletics 6-2 behind Darvish and mulit-hit games from Jonathan Lucroy, Ian Desmond, Delino DeShields and Elvis Andrus.

And the bullpen didn’t crater. Diekman got the Rangers out of the eighth and then Matt Bush came in and blew away the Athletics hitters in the top of the ninth in as dominating fashion as you can get, striking out all three on just twelve pitches.

The Rangers swept the Athletics and now have five in a row against two last-place teams in Tampa Bay and Cincinnati.

That should be the blueprint for a sustained winning streak.

*****
NO GAME TODAY.