Thoughts on a 7-6 Rangers win

And the Rangers win their first road series since June 29-July 1 in Cleveland !

That was also a little more exciting that I'd have preferred.

It did feel like from the outset that the Rangers were going to have success in this game. A line drive single by Justin Foscue to start things off, followed the second-longest home run of Corey Seager 's career, will do that.

Statcast had the Seager homer at 458 feet. Only once in his career — back in 2021, with the Dodgers — has Seager hit the ball farther.

Its also tied with Bryce Eldridge for the 28th longest home run hit this season in the majors.

Its the third longest home run hit at Chase Field this season.

Its the longest home run hit by a Ranger this year. Jake Burger 's 447 foot shot against the Tigers on July 5 was the previous high.

Gabriel Moreno homered off of Cal Quantrill to lead off the fourth, making it a 2-1 game, but then the Rangers capitalized on clownball in the top of the fifth to make it a comfy game.

Justin Foscue reached on an E5 by Nolan Arenado , on a ball that took a bad hope. A line drive Corey Seager single was followed by a Josh Jung single that Lars Nootbar…well…

If you don't want to watch the video, Jung looped it into left field, where Nootbar was coming in for it. He pulled up, realizing in couldn't make the catch, but then had the ball bounce between his legs and behind him, allowing both Foscue and Seager to score. Brandon Nimmo later blooped a two out single into no man's land to bring home Jung, and Texas was up 5-1.

Two more came across the next inning, with Danny Jansen doubling home Ezequiel Duran , Evan Carter pinch hitting for Foscue and smoking it but right at Jordan Lawlar in center, then Seager drilling a single to bring home Jansen.

Seager even advanced to second on the throw, leading Dave Raymond and Mike Bascik to comment on how good, physically, Seager is feeling. Feeling good Corey Seager is a good thing.

Because I'm feeling good about this game and this win, we will not talk about the relievers, other than to note that Robert Garcia did good work in the eighth in the second of back-to-back outings, a good sign, given both how long he was on the injured list as well as how badly the Rangers need quality relief options right now.

Quantrill had thrown just 65 pitches through six, and there seemed to be some question as to whether he'd come back out for the seventh, despite the low pitch count. Quantrill did come out, though he was pulled after allowing a Geraldo Perdomo single.

Post-game, it was reported Quantrill was dealing with back tightness, which is why he didn't go longer.

Meanwhile, the Astros of Houston lost, putting the Rangers two games back in the American League West, though really three, since the Astros have the tiebreaker. The Guardians won, meaning the Rangers are two back in the Wild Card, and the Blue Jays won, which means the Jays are still a game ahead of Texas among the teams chasing the Guardians. Fortunately, Texas has the tiebreaker advantage against both Cleveland and Toronto .

Toronto, I will note, plays three games in Arlington Friday through Sunday, with Cleveland no doubt hoping neither team splits.

Before Toronto is Boston . On the plus side, the Rangers are facing Boston at the Shed. On the minus side, Boston is 82-68 this season, with the third best record in the American League. On the plus side, they are eight and a half back in the division, four and a half back for the first Wild Card spot, and six games up on Cleveland for the third Wild Card spot, so while they are not going to be treating the games like exhibitions, their postseason berth and seeding seems pretty well sewn up.

Cal Quantrill touched 95.7 mph with his fastball, averaging 94.2 mph, and 95.9 mph with his sinker, averaging 94.0 mph. Tyler Alexander 's fastball reached 93.9 mph. Robert Garcia topped out at 94.7 mph with his fastball. Jacob Latz 's fastball maxed out at 96.8 mph.

Corey Seager's had a 110.3 mph home run, a 106.3 mph single, and a 105.8 mph single. Elias Diaz had a 109.6 mph line out. Evan Carter had a 105.8 mph fly out. Danny Jansen had a 104.4 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 102.5 mph single.

Now an off day before starting a nine game homestand. Let's spend the next 48 hours enjoying the win.