You have to give it to this Rangers team. They sure know how to frustrate their fans. A 20-3 whacking of the Angels looks nice. Very impressive. A lot of stats padded.

This makes them 5-1 on this six-game homestand and it pumps a few last gasps of oxygen in the Rangers fleeting playoff chances.

But, now they have to go on the road for six games—three against Sacramento, three against Arizona. Their road record is 26-40, near the bottom of all thirty teams.

But, looking at road records is reflecting on the past. Last night was now. Last night was their best offensive performance of the year. Twenty runs. Twenty-two hits. Five doubles. Four home runs. Every Ranger in the lineup, whether he started or came off the bench, collected at least one hit. Adolis Garcia, Joc Pederson, and Kyle Higoshioka had five RBIs each. 

It was a game that was a sad reminder of what could have been had Joc Pederson not gotten off to such a damaging start. That’s not to blame this disappointing season on him alone, but he was the big free agent bat acquired in the offseason, and until recently has been a huge dud. Everyone knew he was better than this but until he showed it, he wasn’t. He’s finally showing it.

Wyatt Langford is starting to hit, too. As with Pederson, it’s too late. Adolis Garcia had four hits. Where was this when they really needed it?

It’s too late to get excited. Run off another five out of six on the road, then we can actually believe. Until then, yes, twenty runs was fun. But the twelve shutouts this year? Not fun. All those games they squandered where it took them fifteen games to score twenty runs?

That’s why they are in the situation they’re in.

*****