Call to the pen
Fansided

Are the Dodgers 2019 chances already history?

By Bill Felber

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after allowing a sixth inning home run to Mookie Betts (not pictured) #50 of the Boston Red Sox in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after allowing a sixth inning home run to Mookie Betts (not pictured) #50 of the Boston Red Sox in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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04 OCT 2015: Texas Rangers Outfield Josh Hammilton (32) [2432] prepares for his at-bat during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. (Photo by: Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

2012 Texas Rangers

The Rangers dominated the AL West in 2010-11, averaging 93 victories and capturing the division both seasons. Their 2011 World Series defeat at the hands of the Cardinals was especially crushing since Texas led 7-5 entering the ninth inning of the potential Game 6 clincher.

That was the game when David Freese delivered his two-out ninth inning triple to tie the game and then homered in the 11th to win it.

The Rangers returned for 2013 with much the same core. Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz and Michael Young all anchored the lineup. Matt Harrison and Yu Darvish won 18 and 16 games respectively to lead the pitching staff, while veteran closer Joe Nathan added 37 saves.

But their hopes for a third straight World Series run took a jolt during a season-ending three game series against the A’s in Oakland. Texas entered that series two games ahead of the A’s, but lost the first two games 4-3 and 3-1 to set up a Sunday finale for the divisional title. Texas took an early  5-1 lead, but a six-run Oakland fourth against Ryan Dempster and Matt Harrison gave the Athletics a lead they never relinquished, and Oakland pulled away to win 12-5.

The loss sent the Rangers into a wild card showdown against the Baltimore Orioles, with Darvish losing 5-1. Hamilton and Beltre, the heart of the Rangers offense, went a combined 0 for 8 in that elimination game

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