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Rangers’ comebacks, close games key in 2016
- Updated: October 10, 2016
ARLINGTON — For 183 days, the Rangers enjoyed an intense and remarkable regular season, compiling the best record in the American League on their ability to mount late-inning comebacks and win an extraordinary number of close games.
Then came three games in October, and all their tremendous accomplishments were washed away as the Blue Jays swept them in the Division Series. That doesn’t seem right, but the Rangers did make it clear their goal was to win the World Series, and anything short of that was a disappointment.
That clearly is the Rangers’ epitaph for the 2016 season, but it doesn’t change the reality that once the games started, watching this ballclub night after night was truly fun for anyone who loves baseball.
“Look at the numbers and how we played all year long, the comeback wins, the one-run wins — that’s not luck,” manager Jeff Banister said. “I’ll argue with anybody that wants to say it’s luck. It’s not luck. It’s a case that they continue to play. They’re very talented. We’re not perfect. No team is perfect. And so I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
As often is the case, the focus is more on the end result than the journey. But this journey was extraordinary in its own way.
Record: 95-67, first place in the American League West.
Defining moment: There were so many one-run and comeback victories that it’s hard to pick one. But Sept. 13 is as good as any. The Rangers trailed 2-1 into the ninth inning against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Rougned Odor struck out for …
