Just when it looked like the Texas Rangers had the AL West division title wrapped up, the Los Angeles Angels scored five runs in the ninth on Saturday afternoon to boost their wildcard hopes and send the division race to the final day of the season.
The Rangers had a 10-6 lead in the 9th and were poised to celebrate, needing only three more outs to clinch the division. The Angels, on the other hand, were in danger of losing and putting themselves on the brink of elimination in the wildcard race. Suddenly, though, the Angels rallied for five runs.
There was definitely some luck involved, as the Rangers dropped a popup and the game-tying hit was a broken bat single. That said, Rangers manager Jeff Banister used closer Shawn Tolleson for an unprecedented fifth day in a row, and the Angels took advantage by homering twice off him to start the inning and get themselves back in the game.
The loss not only keeps the Houston Astros alive in the division for at least a bit longer, but it means the Angels are within a half game of Houston for the final wildcard spot, and can move into a tie if the Astros slip up Saturday night. The Rangers, on the other hand, will be hoping their meltdown does not end up costing them a division championship.
