Tampa Bay Rays (28-27) at Texas Rangers (26-27) RHP Chris Archer (4-3, 3.61) vs. RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (0-0, 3.97) Game #54 • Home #27 (17-9) • Wed., May 31, 2017 • Globe Life Park in Arlington • 7:05 p.m. (CDT) • FSSW / 105.3 FM / 1270 AM RANGERS AT A GLANCE WINS AND LOSSES: The Rangers beat the Rays last night, ELVIS ON STAGE: Elvis Andrus posted a career-high 5 RBI 9-5, to even this series entering tonight’s finale…Rangers last night with a 3-R HR in the 7th and a 2-R single in the Overall ..............................26-27 are 1-1 on this 8-game, 10-day homestand against TB (1-1), 8th…since the start of 2016, the only other Ranger to have a HOU (3 G), and NYM (2 G)…club has won 2 of last 3 games, pair of multi-RBI hits in the 7th-or-later was Rougned Odor on Home ..................................17-9 Road ...................................9-18 but has dropped 7 of 10 after a 2017 MLB best 10-game 8/31/16 vs. SEA (2-R HR in 7th, 3-R HR in 8th)…last night’s winning streak from 5/9-19, 4th-longest in franchise history… 5 RBI by Andrus marked most in a game by a Texas SS since Standing ........... T2nd, -11.0 GB Texas has won 13 of 20 and 15 of 24 and is 15-13 in May, 9/16/07 at OAK (Michael Young-7 RBI) having secured a winning month (see separate notes)…team • Andrus’ HR last night marked just the 3rd time since 2011 Homestand ...........................1-1 has a 21-17 (.553) record beginning 4/20, 6th-best in the A.L. that a Ranger has hit a 3-R HR or grand slam in the 7th-or- One-Run ...............................4-8 and 10th-best in MLB…club’s 21 wins in that span rank 3rd later that turned a multiple-run deficit into a lead or tie game… 2-Run ....................................4-3 in A.L. (27-HOU; 22-TOR)…at 26-27, the Rangers have a the others: Shin-Soo Choo on 5/2/15 vs. OAK (game-tying losing mark for a 4th straight day after sitting at .500-or-better 3-R HR in 7th) and Ian Desmond on 5/15/16 vs. TOR (go- HR ....................................21-20 No HR...................................5-7 for 10 straight days, 5/16-25…team has been a season-high ahead 3-R HR in 7th). 3 games above .500 twice, last on 5/21 (24-21), and was a • Andrus’ 7 HR are just one shy of his career-best in a season White ..................................12-5 2017 high 7 games under .500 (13-20) on 5/8, the day before (8-2016; 7-2015/2017)…the 7 HR are 4th-most among A.L. w/ Blue ................................2-1 the 10-G win streak began…after 53 G, Texas was 31-22/32- SS (11-Francisco Lindor, 8-Tim Beckham/Carlos Correa). w/ Red ..............................10-4 22 in 2016…the 26 wins are fewest through 53 games since Gray ......................................7-8 Alt. Blue ..............................3-10 2008 (26-27/27-27). BELTRE CLIMBS: Adrian Beltre’s double last night was Blue Home .........................2-1 career hit no. 2944, passing Frank Robinson for sole pos- Blue Road ..........................1-9 THE FINALE: Texas enters tonight’s game with a 3-3 record session of 34th all-time…it was double no. 592, tied w/ Todd Alt. Red (all home) ...............1-2 in rubber contests this season, 1-1 in Arlington…club won Helton for 18th all-time…of the 11 right-handed batters in ML Special ..................................3-2 last rubber game on 5/21 at DET, snapping 3-G losing streak history with 570+ doubles, 9 are in the Hall of Fame and 2 are Last 5 Games .......................2-3 in rubber finales…Rangers could climb back to .500 with a active: Beltre and Albert Pujols (608). Last 10 Games .....................3-7 win tonight, and win back-to-back games for 1st time since 5/18-19 at end of team’s 10-G win streak…Texas enters to- TO AND FRO, THE PENDULUM THROWS: The Rangers Come From Behind Wins ...... 13 Losses After Lead ................. 14 night having won 5 of last 7 series in Arlington, incl. 3 straight. scored 3 in the 7th and 4 in the 8th last night, overcoming a 3-run deficit for the 1st time in ‘17 in the comeback vic- Score First ........................ 17-11 IN THE STANDINGS: The Rangers are T2nd place in the tory…it was the 1st time Texas had scored 7+ runs in the Opp. Score First .................9-16 A.L. West w/ LAA, 17th time in 18 days to have at least a 7th-and-later to win a game when trailing through 6 frames share of 2nd (beg. 5/13)…club has lost 5.5 games in the since 5/10/16 vs. CWS…in that game, the Rangers trailed Columns below listed in a Home/Road/Total format standings the last 9 days (5.5 to 11.0 GB)…the current 11.0- 10-5 after 6 1/2 innings and won 13-11 behind a run in the 7th game deficit is the club’s greatest at any point since the end and an 8-run 8th inning...Ryan Rua’s go-ahead 3-R HR in the vs. AL West ........6-3/5-11/11-14 of the 2014 season (21.0 GB)…this is the team’s largest defi- 8th capped the Rangers’ scoring in that game. vs. AL Central .......... 5-5/2-1/7-6 cit in the standings through 52 games of a season since 2007 vs. AL East .............. 1-1/1-5/2-6 Interleague .............. 5-0/1-1/6-1 (13.5 GB after 53 and 54 G). ON THE OFFENSIVE: With last night’s 11 hits, Texas has posted 10+ hits in 3 straight to match a season high (also Series ..............5-3-0/2-6-1/7-9-1 AT HOME: The Rangers have won 9 of last 10 in Arlington 4/11-13)…last night was also the 6th time in ‘17 to score at Series Openers.............5-4/3-6/8-10 and own a 17-9 (.654) mark at home, 4th-best in A.L. and least 9 runs…Texas is batting .286 (191-668) over the past Series Finales .............. 5-2/6-4/11-6 Rubber Games ........ 1-1/2-2/3-3 6th-best mark in MLB…club has won 11 of 14, 16 of 21, and 20 G beg. 5/9 to raise team batting avg. from .215 (2nd-low- 17 of last 23 in Arlington…since start of ‘16, Rangers’ 70-37 est in MLB) to .242, 2nd-highest all season (.248 on 4/7)… Lead after 6 ........... 9-3/8-6/17-9 (.654) record at home is best in A.L. and 3rd-best in majors the .286 figure in that span leads MLB. Lead after 7 ......... 12-2/8-2/20-4 (LAD-.673, 74-36; CHC-.670, 71-35)…club had 8-0 home- • Texas ranks among A.L. home batting leaders in R/G (2nd, Lead after 8 ......... 13-1/8-1/21-2 stand from 5/10-18, 2nd undefeated homestand of 7+ G in 5.38), avg. (3rd, .265), and OPS (4th, .786). Trail after 6 .......... 4-5/0-10/4-15 Rangers history (also 8-0, 5/20-29/05) and tied for longest Trail after 7 .......... 2-6/0-14/2-20 home win streak in MLB in ‘17 (also BAL, 4/26-5/20). NOT ME - I’M IN MY PRIME: Austin Bibens-Dirkx (age Trail after 8 .......... 2-7/0-16/2-23 32.032) is slated to make his 1st ML start in tonight’s series VS. TAMPA BAY: Clubs have split 1st 2 games in ‘17…Rang- finale…according to STATS LLC, he will become the oldest Tied after 6 .............. 4-1/1-2/5-3 Tied after 7 .............. 3-1/1-2/4-3 ers are 3-5 vs. TB since start of ‘16, 8-7 since start of ‘15, and pitcher in Rangers history at the time of his 1st ML start, Tied after 8 .............. 2-1/1-1/3-2 18-21 since 2012…Texas has won season series w/ Rays a mark previously held by Ross Wolf, who was 30.216 for just once in last 5 seasons (5-2 in ‘15)…have gone 8-8 vs. TB his start (and lone ML win) on 5/22/13 vs. OAK…only older Decided 7th/later...........8-4/1-8/9-12 in Arlington since the start of ‘13…Texas won 2010 and 2011 pitcher in franchise history for 1st ML start was Senators’ Joe Shutouts ........................... 1-0/2-1/3-1 Decided final AB .........5-2/1-4/6-6 ALDS vs. Rays, but lost a 9/30/13 tiebreaker for the 2nd A.L. Grzenda, 32.352 on 5/26/70 at BOS…Bibens-Dirkx will be Walk-off games ....................4-2 Wild Card spot…Texas leads all-time series (reg. season), the oldest pitcher at the time of his 1st ML start since BOS’ 91-78, including a 55-37 advantage in Arlington…Texas does Craig Breslow (35.049) on 9/26/15 vs. BAL (credit STATS ALL-TIME HOME RUN LIST not travel to the Trop until after the All-Star break, 7/21-23.