If not for one inning, the Texas Rangers would be staring at a three-game-to-none lead in the ALCS against the team that is supposed to dominate in the playoffs.
They’ve dominated 26 of the 27 innings played, and they’ve outscored the defending champion New York Yankees 21-8, including an 8-0 shutout on Monday night.
After most thought the Yankees would run right through the Rangers, this resilient young team has showed that they still have fight in them and that they are every bit as good as the potent Yankees lineup. What they’ve also proved is they have better pitching. As history has shown—especially in the playoffs—good pitching beats good hitting every day of the week.
With the Rangers up two games to one after the win on Monday night, they are playing well enough to wrap this series up before it ever shifts back to Arlington, Texas.
Here are 10 reasons why they’ll do just that on Wednesday, and why they’ll make the Yankees—and their fans—watch as the Rangers celebrate as ALCS Champions.