MINNEAPOLIS -- It’s hard to emphasize just how much the Rangers have needed this.
It’s come in spurts all season, but Texas’ offense is the main character, for better or for worse. It was for better on Tuesday night, when the Rangers erupted for 16 runs in a 16-4 win over the Twins to open the series at Target Field and extend their win streak to three games.
The 25 total runs over this three-game win streak are the most the Rangers have scored in any three-game span this season.
“We knew it was there this whole time,” said Tuesday’s starter Tyler Mahle. “I've had confidence in them the whole time, this whole season. That's a perfect example of it. We just put it on and never really stopped. They're super fun to watch when they get like that. We know it's what we're capable of. That was a perfect showing of it.”
One of the biggest takeaways from Tuesday’s win was …
Evan Carter BACK?
Since he burst onto the scene with his big league debut in September 2023, Carter has struggled to live up to that initial impression, through no fault of his own. A nagging back injury affected him for most of 2024, and he’s yet to regain his footing … until now.
Carter opened the season with Triple-A Round Rock and then hit just .182/.270/.273 with one home run and three RBIs in 11 MLB games before landing on the injured list on May 17 with a Grade 2 quad strain.
But since his return? After a three-hit day on Tuesday, he’s slashing .389/.421/.778 in six June games.
“I don't know, baseball is weird,” Carter said of his turnaround. “It's one of those things that if I knew what was different or what I was doing, I would do it all the time. I just know I’m having fun right now. Everybody is. Hitting is contagious. We’re laughing, having fun, playing loose. It's exciting to see.”
Here are the biggest positives from the Rangers’ offensive outburst on Tuesday.
Adolis García, also back?
García, like many Rangers, has struggled this season. But unlike many of his teammates, he got a four-game mental break to try to figure some things out at the plate.
Entering the first game he sat -- May 30 against the Cardinals -- he had been hitting just .155 with 25 strikeouts in the 20 games leading up to it. He was hitting .208 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs overall when the calendar turned to June.
García’s now got hits in all six games since his return to the lineup, including a multi-hit day in Tuesday’s win.
“He looks more athletic, looser, and he’s getting some good swings off,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I think he's shown better discipline. He's seeing the ball well. Part of it, too, I think, was his determination to get this turned around. He worked hard when he got his time out there, and it has paid off.”
Corey Seager back on track?
The Rangers' shortstop entered the day riding the longest hitless streak of his career at 0-for-25, which was also the longest active skid in MLB. He was just 2-for-34 (.059) with 13 strikeouts in his nine games since returning from the injured list on May 28.
Seager doubled that hit total in the win on Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with two walks.
“That's always good,” Bochy said. “He’s made some hard outs there. It’s good to see him the first time up -- he smoked that ball for a hit. He can hit it. I'm sure this is a streak he hasn't gone through in his career. But you're right. I'm not worried about him. You are who you are. You like getting your hits.”