Playoff-tested Gallardo helps lift Rangers into wild-card spot

Don’t let the Milwaukee Brewers’ track record the past four seasons hide the fact that Yovani Gallardo has pitched in a pennant race and pitched in the postseason.

He knows what it’s like, the rush of adrenaline that comes with being on the mound in a meaningful game. The focus is heightened. In Gallardo’s case, the performance improves.

Overall, he’s 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA in his postseason career.

He came back from knee surgery in 2008 to return for the National League Division Series, only to be outdueled in Game 1 by eventual World Series MVP Cole Hamels.

In the 2011 NLDS, Gallardo went 1-0 in two starts with a 1.29 ERA after going 5-3 with a 3.14 ERA over the final two months.

He’s knows what he’s doing this time of year with something on the line, and he’s trending the right way as the Texas Rangers play with something on the line.

Gallardo tossed six scoreless innings Saturday at Comerica Park, relying on his curveball to keep hitters guessing for a second straight start, and the Rangers’ offense scored four times in the third en route to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

“This what you prepare yourself for throughout the year, off-season and spring training,” Gallardo said. “This is what you play for, to have that opportunity to make the playoffs and go as far as you can to the World Series.

“I try to treat it as any regular start, but being out there you know that you have to give that extra effort and extra focus. It adds more adrenaline and more excitement, to be honest, and you have to go out there and perform.”

The Rangers remained four games behind Houston in the American League West, but passed the Los Angeles Angels for second place after the Angels lost 15-3 to Toronto.

The Angels loss vaulted the Rangers into second place in the West, and it moved them into sole possession of the second wild-card spot by a half-game over the Angels and a game over Baltimore.

Toronto and Baltimore will visit Globe Life Park this week after the Rangers finish their four-game series against the Tigers on Sunday and enjoy an off day Monday.

“The last two months of the season are very important, especially the situation we’re in,” Gallardo said. “This is when baseball gets fun. It’s fun to go out there and compete and know it’s a must-win every day.”

The Rangers have won eight of their past 10 games, and they were an out away from a second consecutive shutout. Ian Kinsler ruined that with a three-run homer off Shawn Tolleson after consecutive two-out infield hits in the ninth off Sam Dyson.

But the Rangers entered the ninth leading 5-0, four of which came off Randy Wolf in the third. The Rangers’ five singles in the inning, beginning with a Delino DeShields single to left, and Shin-Soo Choo, Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli had RBI singles before Elvis Andrus plated the final run on a groundout.

The Rangers didn’t collect an extra-base hit until Rougned Odor swatted a solo homer with one out in the ninth.

It’s not exciting, definitely not as exciting as their back-to-back-to-back homers Wednesday, but it’s every bit as effective as long as they’re winning.

“It was nice by our guys to battle, and it was a big run by Odor there late,” manager Jeff Banister said. “I really felt like we needed another run or two, and for Roogie to come up big there and get that home run, it gave us a little extra room.”

Gallardo (10-9) has come up big this month after a hitting a three-start lull exiting the All-Star break. He allowed five runs in three straight starts, but has allowed only six runs in four starts this month.

The past two he and catcher Bobby Wilson have gone to the curveball, which has been an out pitch for Gallardo throughout his career. He relies more on his fastball now, as he tried to get quicker outs and keep the ball on the ground, but the curve gets hitters off the fastball.

“Sometimes, you have to find ways to get back into the game,” Gallardo said. “Just being able to command it, it’s very important.”

It’s an important time of the year, and Gallardo appears to be trending the right way as the Rangers play with something on the line.

This story was originally published August 22, 2015 at 10:44 PM with the headline "Playoff-tested Gallardo helps lift Rangers into wild-card spot."