Baseball in July doesn’t get much bigger than it was at Globe Life Field over the last four days.

The Texas Rangers entered their series with the Seattle Mariners holding just a half-game division lead with a .500 record of 51-51.

Perhaps more importantly, the series provided an opportunity for the Rangers to make a statement to their front office and the baseball world that they are a legitimate threat to win the American League West.

Consider that statement made.

Texas took three out of four from the Mariners and now sits two games above .500 at 54-52, with a two-game division lead as we sit just one week away from the MLB Trade Deadline.

Interestingly enough, we didn’t know much about what this Rangers team was coming into this series. It certainly doesn’t feel right to say that, given the team had played 102 games, but the eye test showed exactly what the record had been up until that point … a .500 team.

However, it feels fair to say that the Rangers showed us what they’re made of over the weekend.

Texas seems to be finding an identity as a scrappy team that can do little things to win games no matter who’s on the field.

On Friday night, the Rangers' starting infield featured the likes of Cam Cauley, Nicky Lopez, and Ezequiel Duran, none of whom were regular starters at the beginning of the season.

With Texas having just taken the lead in the sixth inning, it was Lopez who dropped in a run-scoring squeeze bunt to produce what would end up being the game-winning score in a 5-4 victory.

In Monday's 7-3 series-clinching win, Texas slugged four home runs in the first three innings against Seattle starter George Kirby, who was 9-1 with a 1.33 ERA against the Rangers in 13 career starts coming into play.

Both of those moments were small snapshots into a bigger picture of the Rangers' season that shows no matter who has been in the lineup, the team has found different ways to win games and, as a result, finds itself right in the thick of the postseason picture.

There’s no doubt that Texas certainly isn’t home free just yet. With two tough road series against the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros before the deadline, a total collapse would certainly have the front office rethinking its plans.

Although, if there’s one thing we’ve finally learned about this Rangers team, it’s that just when it seems they need a big moment, someone steps up. If that trend continues for another week, they’re going to have some reinforcements to help the rest of the way.

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