New-look Rangers lineup putting it all together

August 5th, 2016

BALTIMORE -- Even if the Rangers' 5-3 win over the Orioles on Thursday doesn't jump off the page as an offensive onslaught, it provided a glimpse of what their post-non-waiver Trade Deadline lineup can do.
Texas slugged a season-high six doubles as part of a season-high seven-extra-base hit attack -- each knock coming from a different player. The Rangers managed just five runs because of a 3-for-16 showing with runners in scoring position, but the depth of their offense was on display nonetheless.
"Any time you have extra-base hits like that, you have guys that can put some numbers up offensively," said , who hit his first homer with the Rangers. "I think any one of these guys in that lineup out there can do that. There's a lot of different weapons and a lot of different ways we can hurt you."

The Rangers already had a potent offense before Monday's Deadline, but with the acquisitions of Lucroy and , it figures to be one of the most dangerous in baseball.
It didn't show in the first two games of the series -- the Rangers combined for just three runs on two extra-base hits -- but manager Jeff Banister said the group needed time to get acclimated to the new order.

"Obviously the first couple of nights we didn't [produce], but it takes a little time," Banister said. "It takes a little time for kind of the chemistry of the guys working together of how they fit, their at-bats, what the at-bats look like in front of them."
Plus, they had been missing their leadoff hitter until Thursday. returned from the disabled list to provide an instant spark with a double to open the game.
• Rangers get leadoff man back, activate Choo
"It was a huge difference," Banister said of having Choo back. "He looked like he hadn't missed an at-bat."

Choo's double marked a trend for a team that entered the night 25th in the Majors in two-baggers. The Rangers' bolstered lineup seemed to have the Orioles' outfielders scrambling to chase balls down at the fence all night.
"This is a lineup that we feel is capable of doing this kind of thing on any given night," Banister said.