Texas Rangers clinch playoff berth with win over Angels
By Thomas Cuda
The Texas Rangers clinched a playoff berth on Thursday night for fourth time in seven years, beating the rival Los Angeles Angels 5-3. The win also secures the team’s seventh postseason appearance in franchise history. By beating the Angels, the Rangers eliminated them from the American League West division title race, making it a two-horse race with the in-state rival Astros.
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While the Rangers got the chance to celebrate tonight, they’re one of the few teams in the playoff hunt that has meaningful games remaining. They currently hold a three-game lead in the division over the Houston Astros, which mathematically keeps Houston alive in the hunt for the division title. The elimination number for the Astros is one, meaning a win by Texas or a loss by Houston would hand the Rangers the West.
The Rangers will be making their first playoff appearance since 2012, when they fell in the inaugural American League Wild Card play in game to the Baltimore Orioles. They had made two consecutive World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. Last week, designated hitter Prince Fielder said in an interview that he was “jealous” and “mad” at those teams in the way that they always had fun when they played. Texas has that chemistry back that carried them to back to back pennants, and they are looking to reach the title that just escaped them in 2011.