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Post-Game Show: Rangers 11-10, Indians 9-5

D-tails
• Game 1 boxscore, Game 2 boxscore, AL West Standings, AL Wild Card Standings

Story of the Day
Behind a surprisingly resilient offense, the Rangers held off a pair of Cleveland rallies to sweep a doubleheader for the third time this season. The Rangers had previously swept Oakland in May and Toronto last week, both at home.

In the opener, Marlon Byrd went 4-for-4 and his three-run home run in the seventh inning broke a tie after Cleveland had rallied back from 5-1. In the ninth, the Rangers added three more runs to give themselves a needed four-run cushion. OF Julio Borbon homered for the second time in the game and then Byrd began a two-out rally with a single. OF Nelson Cruz and C Ivan Rodriguez each had hits to stoke the rally.

In the second game, the Rangers led 7-0 at one point only to see the lead whittled to 7-5 heading to the ninth. They took advantage of a two-out error that allowed OF David Murphy to reach base. C Taylor Teagarden followed with a single and then 1B Chris Davis hit a three-run homer to left center.

The win helped the Rangers creep within two games of Boston in the wild card race, even though the Red Sox crushed the Orioles on Tuesday.

Three Up
• CF Marlon  Byrd had seven hits in the doubleheader, setting a club record for hits in one day. The single game record of six had been shared by Ian Kinsler and Alfonso Soriano. The doubleheader record was held by David Murphy, also with six.
• Despite being charged with five runs in 6.1 innings, RHP Brandon McCarthy won for the fourth straight game and hasn’t lost since mid-May. He has a 3.69 ERA in those five starts and is 7-2 for the year.
• In both games, the Rangers scored three times in the ninth inning to all but put the game away. In the first game, C Ivan Rodriguez had a big two-run double; in the second 1B Chris Davis had a three-run homer.

Three Down
•LHP Eddie Guardado allowed a run on a wild pitch and allowed a run-scoring hit to the only batter he faced, whittling what was once a 7-0 lead in the second game to 7-5.
•LHP C.J. Wilson and RHP Frank Francisco, the normally reliable back end of the bullpen, were shaky in Game 1. They combined to allow five hits and three runs and allowed the lead to shrink to one run at one point.
• Though he had a pair of sensational plays in which he went into the outfield and threw runners out in Derek Jeter-in-his-prime style, SS Elvis Andrus also made a pair of errors. He’s up to 19 for the season. He can’t afford to have a rookie lapse in the playoff race.

Stat o’ the Day
1.327: OF Marlon Byrd’s on-base-plus-slugging percentage in the week since 3B Michael Young strained his hamstring. Byrd, who was 7-for-9 Tuesday, has a .565 OBP and a .772 slugging percentage. He’s driven in six runs in six games.

Player of the Day
Here are your candidates: OF Julio Borbon (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBIs); CF Marlon Byrd (7-for-9, HR, 3 RBIs; club record for hits in a doubleheader); 2B Ian Kinsler (5-for-9, 3 R, 1 RBI); OF David Murphy (3-for-9, HR, 3 RBI). Vote here. (LINK SHOULD BE FIXED)

Flying Saucer/Flying Fish Depot Double Dip

Hey, everybody: Just wanted to make you aware that coupons are good at Flying Saucer and Flying Fish locations for a full week. So, even if you don’t want a brat or catfish on Wednesday, print it out and take it there Thursday or Friday. Have lunch on the Corner!

Flying Saucer: Rangers win, you win (Print coupon; good through Sept. 14)
Flying Fish: Rangers take six walks, you win (Print coupon; good through Sept. 14)

Home Run Pool
No winners.