The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Rangers 9-1 in a regular-season MLB match on Friday, 12 September. The hosts made quick work of their visitors from the opening frame, and here's the thing — the game never really had a chance of being competitive. Rangers fans who'd backed their side at 52 per cent confidence got a rude awakening in Scottsdale.
Arizona's attack was relentless, stringing together runs that left the Rangers defence exposed. By then, any doubt about the outcome had evaporated. The visitors, who'd lost three of their last four before this trip, simply couldn't find an answer to the barrage. It was a fourth straight victory for Arizona, and they didn't let up for a moment.
To be fair, the Rangers had shown they could spring a surprise recently — that 10-5 win over the Mariners on 9 September was impressive. But this was a different opponent, and different conditions. The Diamondbacks had won five of their last six, including back-to-back against Houston. The momentum was clearly in their favour.
The Rangers' recent form tells a different story. They'd lost 3-4 to the Mariners on 10 September, then dropped 2-3 in their next meeting. Before that, they'd been involved in a high-scoring affair against Tampa Bay. Three losses in their last five before this matchup should have been a warning sign.
What the result means is straightforward. Arizona sits firmly in the hunt, while the Rangers' playoff hopes took another hit. The scoreline was harsh, but the performance justified it. One mistake ends it in baseball, and the Rangers made too many of them.