Reports: With a timely return to form, the Texas Rangers swept Rivals in an exciting three-game series….Read more

An all-time terrible season has unfolded for the Chicago White Sox. The Southsiders were a godsend for a Texas club that was hesitating before next Tuesday’s trade deadline, as they had just 27 wins as August drew near. Three of the four games were closely contested, even though the league’s poorest team was pitted against the defending champions. In spite of their lackluster play for the majority of the season, the Texas Rangers won all three of those one-run games and even managed a rare blowout victory.

A sweep is a sweep when choices are on the horizon, and when teams from different divisions are playing each other, it indicates that you made some progress. As a result, the Rangers have closed the gap to first place in the American League West to just 2.5 games.

June saw Wyatt Langford, of the Rangers, hit the ball harder than anybody else in the lineup. Langford was named the American League Rookie of the Month for the third month of the season after he hit.309 with 22 RBI and 11 runs scored on a.368/.526 slash line.

The 2023 first-round draft pick had a long slump in July that included the All-Star break, but he came through in Game 1 of this series when the pressure was on. When the Rangers and White Sox were deadlocked at three runs apiece in the bottom of the tenth, Langford came to the plate after the bases were loaded due to Chicago’s decision to intentionally walk Corey Seager and Josh Smith. The youngster, who had been batting above the Mendoza line in July, ended it with a rare walk-off for the Rangers as he crushed a shot off the corner of left field.

Prior to this series against Chicago, Kirby Yates had not allowed a home run in the whole season. Yates, who had a 1.02 ERA, was a model of consistency as a closer. Yates gave up his first home run of the season in what appeared to be a heartbreaking moment while attempting to preserve a 2-2 draw in Monday’s opener. Paul DeJong gave the White Sox a lead in the ninth inning with a long fly to left field, which was Yates’ first gaffe. Although Yates lost the lead for the first time all season, the Rangers staged one of their rare comebacks in the ninth inning, tied the game on an RBI single by Jonah Heim, and then won it in extra innings on a hit by Langford.

The recovery

Each starting pitcher in this series was eyeing a rebound attempt before taking the mound. Whether it was Max Scherzer’s brief two-inning stint and four runs allowed in his second-half debut against Baltimore or Nathan Eovaldi’s season-high six runs allowed in his first game back from the All-Star break, the Rangers’ rotation desperately needed a hot start. Despite the fact that Tyler Mahle and Jacob deGrom are still out with injuries, the team’s chances of making the playoffs and staying in games hinge on the arms’ ability to maintain a high level of performance in the starting rotation. It was top-notch against Chicago.

The first game of the series was begun by Michael Lorenzen, who went five innings while allowing two runs. Jon Gray’s longest outing since May 5th was 7 ⅏ innings of one-run ball. The squad got seven innings of two-run ball from Eovaldi, while the game-winning performance came from Scherzer, who allowed only one run in six innings. In a highly contested series that ended with three one-run victories, Texas needed those performances from their starters.

Mr. Smith, who is unusual

Another spectacular series for the unofficial Rangers first-half MVP. Josh Smith managed to get on base via a pair of walks, including an intentional one in extra innings before Wyatt Langford’s game-winning shot, despite being hitless in the opening game of the series.

Smith continued to have a strong series performance, going 5-for-11 with a double and three RBIs. He seems to be continuing his role as the Rangers’ most reliable hitter from earlier in the season into the current half. Even though he had “cooled off” from a rough June, the Rangers’ third baseman still managed a respectable.267/.384/.450 slash line in July, which is impressive for any hitter, especially one who started the season as the last man on the bench.

Texas, who are now on a five-game winning streak, will head north to take on another team in last place. If the Rangers play well this weekend against the Blue Jays of Toronto, they can silence those who have suggested they are selling the team.