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Home-field advantage ‘No. 1’ priority for Rangers
- Updated: September 30, 2016
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers are closing in on home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
That advantage doesn’t guarantee October success, but it beats the alternative.
The Rangers (94-65) open their final regular-season series, a three-game set against Tampa Bay, on Friday night at Globe Life Park. Texas will enter that series with a two-game lead over Boston for the best record in the American League.
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What kind of a priority do the Rangers place on securing home-field advantage?
“It’s No. 1,” catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. “Our first step was to clinch [the division title]; the second step is home-field advantage. So we’re not done yet.”
“For us to be here for the first two games, that’s something any team wants,” said left fielder Carlos Gomez. “We play in our own facility, in front of our crowd. We need to get this and we’re going to get it.”
The team with the league’s best record draws the winner of the AL Wild Card Game in an AL Division Series matchup. As pitcher Cole Hamels noted, to reach the World …
