Jake Diekman has been a solid reliever in 2016, but no one can be perfect every time out. Diekman took a comfortable lead and made it very uncomfortable by giving up a 3 run shot in the 8th inning. At least he picked a game in which the Rangers had a 4 run lead, a night that Cole Hamels pitched brilliantly.
Shin-Soo Choo bailed Diekman out with a 8th inning insurance run to seal the victory for Cole Hamels. It was also a night where Ian Desmond continued his hot hitting despite the fact that he didn’t even start the game. The Rangers continue their habit of winning games, despite losing the majority of their rotation. They did not have to come back in this one, after taking a 4-0 lead early on in this one.
Sam Dyson came in and did his thing in the ninth, sealing the victory with another save. He has been pretty clutch since taking over the closers role. Besides the Diekman 8th, the bull pen was once again good enough to win. That is a big change from early on in the 2016 season, where the Rangers pen had the worst ERA in the American League. Despite all that, the Rangers have a massive lead in the West, but not an insurmountable lead. Baring a total meltdown, the Rangers will go into the break leading the division.
The Rangers have the Red Sox coming to town next after a much needed day off, and the rotation is not exactly what fans would want to see with Nick Martinez, A.J. Griffin and Martin Perez, but it is the rotation that the Rangers have right now due to injury. The hope is that Griffin will continue right where he left off and Perez will continue to throw the ball effectively. It is always interesting when the Bo Sox come to town. The Rangers truely are playing as a team right now, and that is why they are the best in the American League.
