Originally edited & published at Central Track.
Since Your Texas Rangers (84-57) battled the Tribe out in Cleveland last week, the team has gone 5-3, losing once in hard-fought series out in the open plains of Kansas City before dropping two games in a series of three against the Rays out in the Lightning Capital.
So it should come as no surprise that the Indians (59-83) might think they could charge in to Arlington this week and win a couple of fights.
But, historically, the Texas Rangers just don’t lose to Indians. Never forget: “Bigfoot” Wallace, “Alligator” Davis and John “Coffee” Hays each valiantly led the original Rangers with fearless hearths and Kentucky rifles in driving the original Indians out of Our Territory nearly for good.
Still, the Indians traditionally do put up quite a fight in their defense.
Remember the Indians’ forfeit on Ten Cent Beer Night in 1974, when naked hooligans ran onto the field in Cleveland and pelted then-Rangers manager Billy Martin with hot dogs and attempted to steal the ball caps right off of our outfielders’ heads?
They’re savages, these Indians. But the Texas Rangers just don’t have time for these heathens. They have never lost a war of any real matter against the Indians in the past, and they will never lose a war against them in the future. So expect the typical drill tonight when Ryan Dempster faces off against Jeanmar Gomez. There will be heavy hitting, power pitching and fast running — with a little bit of chin music to boot.
• The Rangers’ hottest hitter in the last seven days is still Adrian Beltre (.317), who eked out eight hits over 25 at-bats, including three home runs and 19 total bases. One of those home runs nearly didn’t count, but thanks to instant replay, the umpires reversed the call from a double to a home run, giving Beltre his 31st dinger of the season.
• The Oakland Athletics are leaving no margin for error for the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, standing closely at just three games behind Texas in the division. The two teams square off in seven of their last 10 games, setting up an exciting end to a roller coaster season.
• The Rangers’ starting pitching rotation still looks solid, with Ryan Dempster making the case for becoming a Game 1 post-season pitcher, Matt Harrison leading the team with 16 wins, Yu Darvish closing in on 200 strikeouts and Derek Holland leading the team with his 1.17 WHIP.
• Jurickson Profar has all but secured a spot on the bench in this year’s playoff roster. The young switch-hitter has provided just the spark the Rangers’ engine needed as the team heads down the stretch. In just his second major league start, Profar hit a tie-breaking RBI double in the 10th inning of Saturday’s game against the Rays to give his team the win.
• Here’s a fun fact: Rangers president Nolan Ryan stands alone in the 5,000 strikeout club. The team he reached the milestone against? Those pesky Oakland Athletics, back on Aug. 22, 1989.
• The Rangers have not made any transactions in the past seven days, although it is worth noting long-relief pitcher Roy Oswalt is out and listed as day-to-day with elbow soreness.