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It all comes home Days after Shannon Stone's accidental death, Josh Hamilton whipped an Andrew Bailey fastball into the fucking stratosphere in the bottom of the ninth. A two-run homer. Walk off. 7-6.
I do not ever want to compare the death of a human being as being "melodramatic" as you might a soap opera. It is analogy. Stone's death was very real. So is the despair and mourning of his family, friends, the city of Brownwood, Rangers fandom, the team and Hamilton.
For most, last night had to feel a little good. Still, underneath the glaze of excitement was that reminder that something horrible had happened and a walk-off win was a mere balm as the scar continues to heal.
No matter what, games are cancelled due to what happened and those games are for winning.
The Rangers, in fact, have won six straight and are nine games over .500 with a shot at 10 today in the series finale and a chance for the four-game sweep. The Rangers are 7-2 in July and 12-6 in this pre-All Star game stretch.
Notes:
1. Hamilton is on quite a tear. He's got 13 RBI in his last nine games and 42 in the 42 games he's played since coming off the disabled list. Most of his production of late has come without the extra-base hit. He has 14 hits in nine games, but just six are for extra bases. For the most part, if there's a runner in scoring position, he's getting them across, by hook or by crook.
2. I'm close to the point where I'm ready to roll with the bullpen as presently constructed. They were not pristine last night, but they did exactly what you wanted: As the Rangers offense clawed back you wanted those guys to keep you in the game. It was close throughout until Hamilton could put the team over the hump. I think Tommy Hunter is excellent out of the 'pen and I think we saw something last night that we haven't seen a lot of in two years: A rested Darren Oliver. He had six days off. In fact, he's pitched three times in July. Hunter's availability and Mark Lowe's emergence have potentially saved Oliver.
3. Colby Lewis was not good. But what separates him from, say, Derek Holland, is that without his best stuff, he'll battle for six innings and keep things in hand. If Holland and Harrison learn this attribute then they will be OK.
4. Has anyone had a bigger week on the field than Elvis Andrus. Sparkling defense. Seven hits and nine runs. A pair of doubles. Then in the bottom of the ninth, two outs, he makes the play of the week crashing into Conor Jackson and getting on base for Hamilton. If that's not a playoff-caliber play then I don't know what is.
5. Ian Kinsler and Andrus have scored 119 runs. I doubt any 1-2 combo in the league matches that.
6. The Rangers have beat Brandon McCarthy and Rich Harden this series.
7. My favorite walk-off reaction. Rewatch the video. Mike Young comes charging out of the dugout and he sees Adrian Beltre in the on-deck circle. Young's going absolutely bonkers and Beltre and him meet in mid-air and embrace. As if they'd won the lottery. Kids playing a kids game.
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