Let's talk about a tale of two teams going in different directions. The Texas Rangers continue to stay hot, winning their sixth straight game with a late rally on Saturday to drop the New York Mets 4-3 at Citi Field in New York. As for the Mets, it was their eighth straight loss and put them behind the San Francisco Giants for the final National League Wild Card spot.
It was wild enough on Saturday in a game that looked like the Rangers were cooked. The Mets brought on ace reliever Edwin Díaz in a 2-2 tie. In the top of the ninth, Wyatt Langford singled to center field and Cody Freeman scored the tiebreaking run.
When Díaz is going bad, then you know the Mets are in trouble. But New York had a chance to tie the game in their half of the ninth. Juan Soto was on first base with one out when Texas reliever Shawn Armstrong was able to strike out slugger Pete Alonso.
Ronny Mauricio followed with a single, putting Soto at third and Mauricio at first. Brandon Nimmo came up, looking to get New York into extra innings. Armstrong, though, struck out Nimmo and that was the ballgame.
Now, what about that comeback? The Rangers were down 2-0 entering the eighth inning. Rangers fans, hold on to your hats because here they came. Josh Smith reached first base on catcher’s interference by Francisco Alvarez.
Langford followed with a double, putting runners at second and third base. Joc Pederson's sacrifice fly plated Smith. Rowdy Tellez came up as a pinch hitter and doubled, scoring Langford and making things all tied up at 2-2.
Rangers fans, though, want to know where things stand in the American League playoff race. The AL West-leading Houston Astros were playing the Atlanta Braves when the Rangers game ended. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners, who are tied for first in the AL West, were playing later on Saturday night.
Texas moved just 1.5 games out of first place after beating New York. Depending on the results from the Astros and Mariners games, that will give Rangers fans a little clearer picture of what lies ahead entering the Sunday afternoon finale.
As for the AL Wild Card race, the Rangers are also 1.5 games out of a spot there, too.
What the Rangers have done in the past few weeks is nothing short of amazing. They've had a litany of players on the Injured List but so many players, whether young or veterans, have stepped up and delivered.
It's also a big tip of the cap toward Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who has done a stellar job in keeping his players focused on the big picture.