By Austin McNabba
After losing eight straight games, the Texas Rangers split a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Both Texas (83-69) and Tampa Bay (83-69) still have identical records and a share of fourth place in the American League, which is where both teams were prior to the series.
On Monday’s game, Rays rightfielder Will Myers had three RBIs as the Rays won 8-2. Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb (9-3, 3.02 ERA) ended his four-game losing streak, allowing just two runs in eight innings of work while Rangers starting pitcher Matt Garza (9-6, 4.06 ERA) continued his struggles, giving himself three straight losses.
On Tuesday, the Rangers ended their eight-game losing streak by not only taking the lead for the first time since before the skid started, but also by getting a home run from second baseman Ian Kinsler on the first pitch as the Rangers won 7-1.
In the third game of the series, both teams battled into the 12th inning where Rays centerfielder Desmond Jennings hit an RBI single that scored pinch-runner Sam Fuld as the Rays won 4-3. In the 11th inning, Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre hit an RBI single, scoring shortstop Elvis Andrus. However, Tampa Bay had an answer as leftfielder David DeJesus also hit a RBI single to score centerfielder Freddy Guzman to tie the game.
In the series finale on Thursday, Texas had seven unanswered runs including three homers as a part of 16 hits in a 8-2 victory. Rangers ace Yu Darvish won for the first time in seven starts.
If the season were to end today, both teams would still make the playoffs. However, Cleveland is just a half game outside of each team in the wild-card race, followed by Baltimore, Kansas City and the New York Yankees.
Texas is still just 4-13 for the month of September. However, it was the first time for the Rangers to not lose a series since late August.
The Rangers will travel to the wild-card contending Kansas City Royals before coming home to the AL West fifth-place Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels, who are below .500, to finish off the regular season.
The Oakland Athletics lead the Rangers by 6 ½ games i
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