Meanwhile, Your Texas Rangers are Suddenly Back Where They Started

Been a little concerned obsessed with the Mavs. But I did catch some Rangers baseball Saturday afternoon. Saw enough of Derek Holland to say "Wow!" And apparently he isn't alone. After swooning without Josh Hamilton, the Rangers tumbled from their 9-1 start into mediocrity. Don't look now, but they're back...

By Richie Whitt

June 6, 2011

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Been a little ~~concerned~~ obsessed with the Mavs. But I did catch some Rangers baseball Saturday afternoon. Saw enough of Derek Holland to say "Wow!"

And apparently he isn't alone.

After swooning without Josh Hamilton, the Rangers tumbled from their 9-1 start into mediocrity. Don't look now, but they're back at eight games over .500 after a surprising four-game sweep at the Cleveland Indians.

Pretty simple, really. The Rangers are hitting better. And pitching unbelievably.

In the last three weeks the starting rotation is 10-2 with a 2.38 ERA and four shutouts, including Holland's complete-game, five-hit masterpiece.

With Hamilton and Nelson Cruz in the lineup the Rangers are obviously a different, better team. But it's pitching that has returned this team to championship form.

Whether it's Alexi Ogando or Colby Lewis or C.J. Wilson or Holland, the Rangers' pitching is keeping them in games. And after a brief hiccup closer Neftali Feliz seems right again, closing yesterday's shutout win over Cleveland to cap a 6-1 road trip.

After Texas' first four-game road sweep since 1999 and first in Cleveland since 1978, Indians' manager Manny Acta came away impressed. "The title," he said, "is probably going to have to run through Texas again."

Looks like when the Mavericks' playoff run ends, we'll have another winner to seek our teeth into.

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