The day after blowing a four-run ninth-inning lead against the Angels, the Rangers finally got the win they needed. Sunday's 9-2 win over the Angels (box score) clinched the AL West title for Texas.
This marks the Rangers' first division title since 2011 and sixth overall. They'd previously clinched their seventh playoff appearance in franchise history. In large part, the Rangers find themselves atop the division thanks to a 46-28 mark in the second half. Also critical was their 13-6 mark against the second-place Astros this season.
The Rangers of course were coming off a 95-loss season in 2014, and they lost ace Yu Darvish in the offseason to Tommy John surgery.