Killshot, to the head

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He was out

I think, in the back of our brains, that the Texas Rangers would have lived with a split of a four-game series in Los Angeles to the Angels.



I don't think that Angels fans would have minded a split either. Stay four games back with 30+ games left. You didn't want to lose three. You would've loved taking three. But a split is OK.



This thing has gotten out of hand. The Rangers continued winning, 4-3, clinching the series and looking for a possible sweep today.



A series win for the Angels would have required one of their young pitchers to show up. They didn't, so the onus was on Ervin Santana to stop the bleeding. For the most part, he did just that. However, the Rangers kept chipping at him until he folded.



It unravelled in the eighth when Ian Kinsler blooped a two-run single with two outs and two strikes. Game. Killshot. It was like in "Goldeneye" when you snipe an enemy in the head and he folds, dead. That half-swing bloop will be playing over and over in the Angels' heads.



The story, again, is pitching. C.J. Wilson went seven strong for his 12th win. In 19.2 August innings, he's allowed four earned runs. He's allowed two home runs since June (14 starts, 93 innings, two home runs). Went toe to toe with Santana and never buckled.



The Rangers are 20 (20!!!) games over .500 for the first time since 1999. Seven games up on the Angels. They are 26-12 against the American League West.



Go. Rangers.



Notes:

1. Wilson's K/BB ratio's gone from a poor 1.83 in 2010 to 2.70 in 2011.



2. Mitch "The Bitch" Moreland has seven hits, three RBI, a gigantic home run, two runs and a rocket throw for an out (the other night) in this series.



3. Mike Napoli extra-base hits: 38. Jeff Mathis total hits: 36. The Angels are not doing well.



4. How good is Elvis Andrus? Nobody turns up empty box scores and yet influences the game more. Outside of some stellar defense, Andrus has two hits in the series. However, he's scored four runs, notched an RBI and walked another four times.



5. Mike Young has nine hits in the series. Average up to .342. His 36th double last night ties the amount from 2010, 2009 and 2008. He hasn't had this rate of doubles since 2006.



6. At this rate, Young will reach 3,000 hits in two years. Joking. Kinda.

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