19 Wins Headline Record May for Texas Rangers

April 24, the Rangers came home from a road trip in Boston and Detroit, the team was in a season-long seven game losing streak, and the team's record was 7-16, dead last in all of Major-League baseball.

A few days later, April ended and the Rangers were 10-18 placing them last in the AL West, again.  The only highlights were Josh Hamilton winning the AL Player of the Month and David Murphy winning the AL Rookie of the Month.

What's the saying, April showers bring May flowers.

Well, the over-casted start of the season for the Rangers has parted ways and the present and future look bright.

In the month of May, the Texas Rangers went 19-10, the best record in the American League.  In fact, the last time a Rangers team won this many games in a month was June 1983.

The Rangers have shot up from last in the AL West to within two games of the second place Oakland A's and five games of the Angels.

The Rangers are winning games not only with the long ball, but Ron Washington's small ball methods are beginning to take on some players.  The starting rotation had a better month, with more wins and quality starts.  Texas's bullpen pitched better than April, but still seems to be the weakest link.

The biggest highlight for the Texas Rangers in May was Josh Hamilton.

Hamilton was named AL Player of the Month for May, becoming the first player in American League history to win the award in both of the first two months of the year.

The last Ranger to win consecutive Player of the Month awards was Alex Rodriguez in August and September 2002.

After winning the award in April with the numbers he put up, Ranger teammates, coaches, and fans couldn't ask Josh to do any more than what he was doing.

As a result, Hamilton's numbers improved from April batting .322 for the month of May with 37 hits and a .617 slugging percentage.  Josh pounded out eight home runs and scored 22 times in May.  He also led the American League in the month with 29 more RBI and 71 total bases.

Josh Hamilton, a Triple Crown contender, has a .328 season batting average, only two points behind leader Hideki Matsui.  He continues to lead the American League with 15 home runs, 77 hits, 34 extra-base hits, 144 total bases, 25 multi-hit games, and a .613 slugging percentage.  Hamilton continues to lead all of Major League baseball with 63 RBI, thirteen more than any other hitter.

Just over a week ago when AL All-Star ballot's were first released, Josh Hamilton was sixth in outfielders, but since then he has batted .417 and been on the cover of Sports Illustrated. 

Whether those factors had any sway on voters is unknown, but Hamilton is currently second in votes out of all outfielders, trailing only Manny Ramirez.

The Rangers lost their first game of June in a slug-fest with the A's, but feel good about the fact that they are the only AL West team that have played more away games than home games.

For the Rangers to continue their play into June, they will need to see more improvements from their pitching staff, starters and relievers both. 

As for contending with the Angels, that is a much bigger mountain to climb.  However, if they continue to hit and field as they did in May and the pitchers improve, then there is no reason why they should compete with the AL West leading Angels.

And if Josh Hamilton continues to hit as he has in April and May, then more Player of the Month awards, a start in the All-Star Game, and continued talks about a MVP award should continue to soar.