Some days it almost seems the Texas Rangers allow teams to score just so they can come back. The game last night seemed like one such game. The Rangers had a 2-1 lead in the ninth. Oakland scored and tied it all up. They went quietly in the ninth, then in the tenth the Rangers gave up two runs. In the past that would have meant the end of it. The Rangers lost.
But in 2016 the Rangers are living never ever quit. The tenth started with a strike out, followed by a walk. Then a walk. Then another walk. A huge hit up the middle by Carlos Beltran, who had four hits on the night, and the game was tied at 4-4. Bob Melvin decide to walk Adrian Beltre to load the bases and put the winning run on third.
Walking Beltre was a decision that Melvin most likely regretted immediately after making it. Reliever Marc Rzepczynski hit Rougned Odor with the first pitch of the at bat, and the Rangers literally walked it off.
“It’s never an easy decision to do something unorthodox like that, but I couldn’t watch that guy beat us again, especially against a left-handed pitcher,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said according to texasrangers.com. “With two lefties coming up, I thought my best shot was to play in and try to get a ground ball to force it.”
“Crazy game,” Adrian Beltre said afterwords. “We always find a way to come back. Carlos came up big again. What a guy he is in the clutch.”