So here they are. The three days Rangers fans marked on their calendar ever since they swept the White Sox July 22, 23, 24, and 25. Those four wins gave the Rangers five consecutive victories and put Texas within 2.5 games from first and just a game under .500.

Ah, those were simpler times. Folks locked their doors at night. Some cars ran on gas andelectricity. Two astronauts were stuck in space.

Since then, the Rangers have gone 9-19 and fallen out of the race, in a futile hunt for wins, able to win two in a row only twice but putting up four three-game losing streaks. 

But, ah, that oasis was on the horizon. Free Parking. A breather. Three games against the Chicago White Sox, who have already crossed the 100-loss threshold.

Here they are. 

Even though the Rangers swept, the four-game series in July in Arlington was anything but a gimme, with the Rangers winning three of them by one run.

These games mean nothing except for a chance to escape embarrassment by losing two of three, or really one of three. 

But, right now, this is all the Rangers have to look forward to. Because, after this, they resume their major league schedule. And we all know how that has worked out for them.

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TODAY’S GAME: