ARLINGTON, Texas — Scenes from a weekend: Rangers starting pitchers didn’t allow a run in back-to-back games. Aroldis Chapman was acquired, arrived, and blew gas by some Houston hitters. The Rangers packed the All-Star roster like a clown car.
Lovely, all of it. The only thing that threatens to ruin the ol’ holiday barbecue is this: By the time the first firework is launched, the Astros may have left town having trimmed the AL West lead by nearly half.
In a 5-3 win Sunday in front of a third consecutive sellout at Globe Life Field, Houston scored all its runs off relievers in the final four innings. It’s been something of a theme over the first three games of this midseason AL West showdown. The Rangers take an early lead; the Astros answer; the Rangers don’t.
