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Heading for the “Grand” Finale (Yankees at Rangers; 09.28.19)

Ross James/ALOST

akoiki-passport2 – by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief

 

ARLINGTON, Texas — Before the wrecking ball is taken to Globe Life Park, Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, one of the longest-tenured members of the team, was able to have at least one more glorious night amidst a season of struggle that he hopes will not carry over to the team’s new environs.

Odor racked up a career-high six RBI, four coming on a sixth-inning grand slam that blew the game open and helped to give the Rangers a 9-4 victory over the New York Yankees in the penultimate game played at Globe Life Park in Arlington..

Odor also smacked a two-RBI double in the bottom of the first off Yankees starter Luis Severino to give the Rangers the lead for good after New York scored a run in the top of the first.

Though the homer have him his third 30-homer season and his 93 RBI in 2019 are a career high, Odor’s 2-for-4 night raised his average to just .204 for the season, one in which he was batting below the Mendoza Line for a good part of the campaign. In his last 25 games, however, that average is up to .261 with a .975 OPS.

“It means a lot, especially how this season has been,” Odor said. “It’s been a tough season but I didn’t give up. I kept working hard, kept believing in myself. That’s why I’m finishing strong.”

Rangers manager Chris Woodard hopes that Odor’s September will be a sign of things to come for an entire season when the Rangers move into their new ball park in 2020.

“For him to have those numbers and look at his overall numbers and say he wasn’t as productive as he could have been? That shows you how talented he is,” Woodward said. “If we get this guy next year for all year, look out.”

*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Saturday’s game, with all photos taken by Dallas-area photographer Ross James. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 28 pictures in total.

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Tags : MLBNew York YankeesRougned OdorTexas Rangers

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