Current MLB Standings as of the games of July 5,2016 from ESPN.GO.COM

MLB Standings - 2016

Major League Baseball

	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Chicago Cubs	52	31	.627	-	26-12	26-19	438	287	+151	L1	4-6
Texas Rangers	53	32	.624	-	28-12	25-20	419	378	+41	W1	5-5
San Francisco Giants	53	33	.616	0.5	25-17	28-16	405	346	+59	L1	5-5
Cleveland Indians	51	32	.614	1	25-12	26-20	407	318	+89	W2	8-2
Washington Nationals	50	35	.588	3	26-15	24-20	396	300	+96	L2	7-3
Baltimore Orioles	48	35	.578	4	31-13	17-22	424	384	+40	W1	5-5
Los Angeles Dodgers	48	38	.558	5.5	27-16	21-22	361	307	+54	L1	7-3
Toronto Blue Jays	47	39	.547	6.5	23-19	24-20	424	362	+62	W4	6-4
Boston Red Sox	45	38	.542	7	26-20	19-18	465	412	+53	L1	4-6
New York Mets	45	38	.542	7	24-17	21-21	318	294	+24	L1	5-5
Houston Astros	45	39	.536	7.5	25-17	20-22	377	347	+30	W2	7-3
Miami Marlins	44	40	.524	8.5	21-19	23-21	355	360	-5	W1	5-5
Detroit Tigers	44	40	.524	8.5	23-16	21-24	406	406	0	L2	6-4
St. Louis Cardinals	43	40	.518	9	18-25	25-15	429	352	+77	L2	5-5
Kansas City Royals	43	40	.518	9	27-11	16-29	334	357	-23	L3	5-5
Pittsburgh Pirates	43	41	.512	9.5	22-19	21-22	390	390	0	W6	8-2
Chicago White Sox	43	41	.512	9.5	22-20	21-21	350	363	-13	L1	6-4
Seattle Mariners	43	41	.512	9.5	22-20	21-21	410	359	+51	L2	6-4
New York Yankees	41	42	.494	11	23-18	18-24	346	373	-27	W1	4-6
Philadelphia Phillies	39	46	.459	14	20-23	19-23	304	387	-83	W3	8-2
Colorado Rockies	38	45	.458	14	18-20	20-25	428	443	-15	W1	4-6
Milwaukee Brewers	37	46	.446	15	22-20	15-26	332	395	-63	W2	4-6
Arizona Diamondbacks	38	48	.442	15.5	15-31	23-17	392	429	-37	W1	2-8
Oakland Athletics	36	48	.429	16.5	17-26	19-22	350	416	-66	L1	4-6
San Diego Padres	36	48	.429	16.5	20-25	16-23	364	418	-54	L1	5-5
Tampa Bay Rays	34	49	.410	18	18-26	16-23	335	392	-57	L1	3-7
Los Angeles Angels	34	50	.405	18.5	16-26	18-24	378	408	-30	W1	3-7
Cincinnati Reds	31	54	.365	22	18-25	13-29	365	513	-148	W1	3-7
Minnesota Twins	28	55	.337	24	18-27	10-28	353	448	-95	W1	5-5
Atlanta Braves	28	56	.333	24.5	13-34	15-22	283	394	-111	L3	3-7

Standings are updated with the completion of each game.

Glossary

• W: Wins
• L: Losses
• PCT: Winning Percentage
• GB: Games Back
• HOME: Home Record
• ROAD: Road Record
• RS: Runs scored
• RA: Runs allowed
• DIFF: Run Differential
• STRK: Current Streak
• L10: Record last 10 games

American League

	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Texas Rangers	53	32	.624	-	28-12	25-20	419	378	+41	W1	5-5
Cleveland Indians	51	32	.614	1	25-12	26-20	407	318	+89	W2	8-2
Baltimore Orioles	48	35	.578	4	31-13	17-22	424	384	+40	W1	5-5
Toronto Blue Jays	47	39	.547	6.5	23-19	24-20	424	362	+62	W4	6-4
Boston Red Sox	45	38	.542	7	26-20	19-18	465	412	+53	L1	4-6
Houston Astros	45	39	.536	7.5	25-17	20-22	377	347	+30	W2	7-3
Detroit Tigers	44	40	.524	8.5	23-16	21-24	406	406	0	L2	6-4
Kansas City Royals	43	40	.518	9	27-11	16-29	334	357	-23	L3	5-5
Chicago White Sox	43	41	.512	9.5	22-20	21-21	350	363	-13	L1	6-4
Seattle Mariners	43	41	.512	9.5	22-20	21-21	410	359	+51	L2	6-4
New York Yankees	41	42	.494	11	23-18	18-24	346	373	-27	W1	4-6
Oakland Athletics	36	48	.429	16.5	17-26	19-22	350	416	-66	L1	4-6
Tampa Bay Rays	34	49	.410	18	18-26	16-23	335	392	-57	L1	3-7
Los Angeles Angels	34	50	.405	18.5	16-26	18-24	378	408	-30	W1	3-7
Minnesota Twins	28	55	.337	24	18-27	10-28	353	448	-95	W1	5-5

National League

	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Chicago Cubs	52	31	.627	-	26-12	26-19	438	287	+151	L1	4-6
San Francisco Giants	53	33	.616	0.5	25-17	28-16	405	346	+59	L1	5-5
Washington Nationals	50	35	.588	3	26-15	24-20	396	300	+96	L2	7-3
Los Angeles Dodgers	48	38	.558	5.5	27-16	21-22	361	307	+54	L1	7-3
New York Mets	45	38	.542	7	24-17	21-21	318	294	+24	L1	5-5
Miami Marlins	44	40	.524	8.5	21-19	23-21	355	360	-5	W1	5-5
St. Louis Cardinals	43	40	.518	9	18-25	25-15	429	352	+77	L2	5-5
Pittsburgh Pirates	43	41	.512	9.5	22-19	21-22	390	390	0	W6	8-2
Philadelphia Phillies	39	46	.459	14	20-23	19-23	304	387	-83	W3	8-2
Colorado Rockies	38	45	.458	14	18-20	20-25	428	443	-15	W1	4-6
Milwaukee Brewers	37	46	.446	15	22-20	15-26	332	395	-63	W2	4-6
Arizona Diamondbacks	38	48	.442	15.5	15-31	23-17	392	429	-37	W1	2-8
San Diego Padres	36	48	.429	16.5	20-25	16-23	364	418	-54	L1	5-5
Cincinnati Reds	31	54	.365	22	18-25	13-29	365	513	-148	W1	3-7
Atlanta Braves	28	56	.333	24.5	13-34	15-22	283	394	-111	L3	3-7

Standings are updated with the completion of each game.

Glossary

• W: Wins
• L: Losses
• PCT: Winning Percentage
• GB: Games Back
• HOME: Home Record
• ROAD: Road Record
• RS: Runs scored
• RA: Runs allowed
• DIFF: Run Differential
• STRK: Current Streak
• L10: Record last 10 games

American League

East	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Baltimore Orioles	48	35	.578	-	31-13	17-22	424	384	+40	W1	5-5
Toronto Blue Jays	47	39	.547	2.5	23-19	24-20	424	362	+62	W4	6-4
Boston Red Sox	45	38	.542	3	26-20	19-18	465	412	+53	L1	4-6
New York Yankees	41	42	.494	7	23-18	18-24	346	373	-27	W1	4-6
Tampa Bay Rays	34	49	.410	14	18-26	16-23	335	392	-57	L1	3-7
Central	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Cleveland Indians	51	32	.614	-	25-12	26-20	407	318	+89	W2	8-2
Detroit Tigers	44	40	.524	7.5	23-16	21-24	406	406	0	L2	6-4
Kansas City Royals	43	40	.518	8	27-11	16-29	334	357	-23	L3	5-5
Chicago White Sox	43	41	.512	8.5	22-20	21-21	350	363	-13	L1	6-4
Minnesota Twins	28	55	.337	23	18-27	10-28	353	448	-95	W1	5-5
West	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Texas Rangers	53	32	.624	-	28-12	25-20	419	378	+41	W1	5-5
Houston Astros	45	39	.536	7.5	25-17	20-22	377	347	+30	W2	7-3
Seattle Mariners	43	41	.512	9.5	22-20	21-21	410	359	+51	L2	6-4
Oakland Athletics	36	48	.429	16.5	17-26	19-22	350	416	-66	L1	4-6
Los Angeles Angels	34	50	.405	18.5	16-26	18-24	378	408	-30	W1	3-7

National League

East	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Washington Nationals	50	35	.588	-	26-15	24-20	396	300	+96	L2	7-3
New York Mets	45	38	.542	4	24-17	21-21	318	294	+24	L1	5-5
Miami Marlins	44	40	.524	5.5	21-19	23-21	355	360	-5	W1	5-5
Philadelphia Phillies	39	46	.459	11	20-23	19-23	304	387	-83	W3	8-2
Atlanta Braves	28	56	.333	21.5	13-34	15-22	283	394	-111	L3	3-7
Central	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Chicago Cubs	52	31	.627	-	26-12	26-19	438	287	+151	L1	4-6
St. Louis Cardinals	43	40	.518	9	18-25	25-15	429	352	+77	L2	5-5
Pittsburgh Pirates	43	41	.512	9.5	22-19	21-22	390	390	0	W6	8-2
Milwaukee Brewers	37	46	.446	15	22-20	15-26	332	395	-63	W2	4-6
Cincinnati Reds	31	54	.365	22	18-25	13-29	365	513	-148	W1	3-7
West	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
San Francisco Giants	53	33	.616	-	25-17	28-16	405	346	+59	L1	5-5
Los Angeles Dodgers	48	38	.558	5	27-16	21-22	361	307	+54	L1	7-3
Colorado Rockies	38	45	.458	13.5	18-20	20-25	428	443	-15	W1	4-6
Arizona Diamondbacks	38	48	.442	15	15-31	23-17	392	429	-37	W1	2-8
San Diego Padres	36	48	.429	16	20-25	16-23	364	418	-54	L1	5-5

Standings are updated with the completion of each game.

Glossary

• W: Wins
• L: Losses
• PCT: Winning Percentage
• GB: Games Back
• HOME: Home Record
• ROAD: Road Record
• RS: Runs scored
• RA: Runs allowed
• DIFF: Run Differential
• STRK: Current Streak
• L10: Record last 10 games

American League

	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Toronto Blue Jays	47	39	.547	+0.5	23-19	24-20	424	362	+62	W4	6-4
Boston Red Sox	45	38	.542	-	26-20	19-18	465	412	+53	L1	4-6
Houston Astros	45	39	.536	0.5	25-17	20-22	377	347	+30	W2	7-3
Detroit Tigers	44	40	.524	1.5	23-16	21-24	406	406	0	L2	6-4
Kansas City Royals	43	40	.518	2	27-11	16-29	334	357	-23	L3	5-5
Chicago White Sox	43	41	.512	2.5	22-20	21-21	350	363	-13	L1	6-4
Seattle Mariners	43	41	.512	2.5	22-20	21-21	410	359	+51	L2	6-4
New York Yankees	41	42	.494	4	23-18	18-24	346	373	-27	W1	4-6
Oakland Athletics	36	48	.429	9.5	17-26	19-22	350	416	-66	L1	4-6
Tampa Bay Rays	34	49	.410	11	18-26	16-23	335	392	-57	L1	3-7
Los Angeles Angels	34	50	.405	11.5	16-26	18-24	378	408	-30	W1	3-7
Minnesota Twins	28	55	.337	17	18-27	10-28	353	448	-95	W1	5-5

National League

	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	DIFF	STRK	L10
Los Angeles Dodgers	48	38	.558	+1.5	27-16	21-22	361	307	+54	L1	7-3
New York Mets	45	38	.542	-	24-17	21-21	318	294	+24	L1	5-5
Miami Marlins	44	40	.524	1.5	21-19	23-21	355	360	-5	W1	5-5
St. Louis Cardinals	43	40	.518	2	18-25	25-15	429	352	+77	L2	5-5
Pittsburgh Pirates	43	41	.512	2.5	22-19	21-22	390	390	0	W6	8-2
Philadelphia Phillies	39	46	.459	7	20-23	19-23	304	387	-83	W3	8-2
Colorado Rockies	38	45	.458	7	18-20	20-25	428	443	-15	W1	4-6
Milwaukee Brewers	37	46	.446	8	22-20	15-26	332	395	-63	W2	4-6
Arizona Diamondbacks	38	48	.442	8.5	15-31	23-17	392	429	-37	W1	2-8
San Diego Padres	36	48	.429	9.5	20-25	16-23	364	418	-54	L1	5-5
Cincinnati Reds	31	54	.365	15	18-25	13-29	365	513	-148	W1	3-7
Atlanta Braves	28	56	.333	17.5	13-34	15-22	283	394	-111	L3	3-7

Standings are updated with the completion of each game.

Glossary

• W: Wins
• L: Losses
• PCT: Winning Percentage
• GB: Games Back
• HOME: Home Record
• ROAD: Road Record
• RS: Runs scored
• RA: Runs allowed
• DIFF: Run Differential
• STRK: Current Streak
• L10: Record last 10 games

Major League Baseball

	W	L	PCT	GB	DAY	NIGHT	GRASS	TURF	1-RUN	XTRA	EXWL
Chicago Cubs	52	31	.627	-	25-15	27-16	52-31	0-0	10-13	3-2	58-25
Texas Rangers	53	32	.624	-	16-11	37-21	52-29	1-3	18-7	3-5	47-38
San Francisco Giants	53	33	.616	0.5	21-10	32-23	50-33	3-0	20-10	6-4	50-36
Cleveland Indians	51	32	.614	1	15-14	36-18	47-29	4-3	13-11	4-3	52-31
Washington Nationals	50	35	.588	3	17-14	33-21	50-35	0-0	13-11	4-3	54-31
Baltimore Orioles	48	35	.578	4	13-11	35-24	46-30	2-5	8-8	2-2	46-37
Los Angeles Dodgers	48	38	.558	5.5	14-7	34-31	45-36	3-2	14-14	5-3	50-36
Toronto Blue Jays	47	39	.547	6.5	21-14	26-25	20-17	27-22	8-14	3-6	50-36
Boston Red Sox	45	38	.542	7	16-14	29-24	41-33	4-5	9-9	5-3	46-37
New York Mets	45	38	.542	7	16-11	29-27	45-38	0-0	18-10	3-2	45-38
Houston Astros	45	39	.536	7.5	18-12	27-27	44-37	1-2	14-14	7-4	45-39
Miami Marlins	44	40	.524	8.5	12-17	32-23	41-40	2-0	11-8	2-4	41-43
Detroit Tigers	44	40	.524	8.5	19-15	25-25	40-40	4-0	11-9	4-2	42-42
St. Louis Cardinals	43	40	.518	9	14-13	29-27	43-40	0-0	7-14	1-2	50-33
Kansas City Royals	43	40	.518	9	13-11	30-29	43-38	0-2	13-9	4-0	39-44
Pittsburgh Pirates	43	41	.512	9.5	12-16	31-25	43-41	0-0	11-11	4-4	42-42
Chicago White Sox	43	41	.512	9.5	16-19	27-22	39-39	4-2	14-14	5-3	40-44
Seattle Mariners	43	41	.512	9.5	14-15	29-26	42-39	1-2	12-16	5-5	48-36
New York Yankees	41	42	.494	11	16-12	25-30	38-36	3-6	12-8	0-2	38-45
Philadelphia Phillies	39	46	.459	14	15-20	24-26	38-45	1-1	19-9	5-0	32-53
Colorado Rockies	38	45	.458	14	18-15	20-30	38-45	0-0	5-11	0-2	40-43
Milwaukee Brewers	37	46	.446	15	17-18	20-28	37-46	0-0	13-15	2-4	34-49
Arizona Diamondbacks	38	48	.442	15.5	13-19	25-29	37-47	1-1	9-11	2-5	39-47
Oakland Athletics	36	48	.429	16.5	13-20	23-28	33-45	3-3	9-13	2-2	35-49
San Diego Padres	36	48	.429	16.5	6-22	30-26	36-48	0-0	11-14	3-2	36-48
Tampa Bay Rays	34	49	.410	18	13-20	21-29	13-23	21-26	7-10	2-1	35-48
Los Angeles Angels	34	50	.405	18.5	12-14	22-36	33-49	1-1	9-10	0-3	39-45
Cincinnati Reds	31	54	.365	22	15-15	16-39	31-54	0-0	12-16	3-6	29-56
Minnesota Twins	28	55	.337	24	14-23	14-32	28-55	0-0	8-15	3-4	32-51
Atlanta Braves	28	56	.333	24.5	10-17	18-39	28-55	0-0	7-11	5-9	29-55

Standings are updated with the completion of each game.

Glossary

• W: Wins
• L: Losses
• PCT: Winning Percentage
• GB: Games Back
• DAY: In day games
• NIGHT: In night games
• GRASS: On grass
• TURF: On artificial turf
• 1-RUN: In one-run games
• XTRA: In extra-inning games
• EXWL: Expected W-L

Major League Baseball

	W	L	PCT	GB	EAST	CENT	WEST	INTR	RHP	LHP
Chicago Cubs	52	31	.627	-	14-12	25-10	11-9	2-0	33-22	19-9
Texas Rangers	53	32	.624	-	13-10	8-7	26-13	6-2	39-22	14-10
San Francisco Giants	53	33	.616	0.5	7-6	13-6	27-15	6-6	33-21	20-12
Cleveland Indians	51	32	.614	1	10-8	26-10	7-9	8-5	35-23	16-9
Washington Nationals	50	35	.588	3	27-13	12-14	2-5	9-3	39-27	11-8
Baltimore Orioles	48	35	.578	4	22-13	16-6	6-14	4-2	35-24	13-11
Los Angeles Dodgers	48	38	.558	5.5	12-8	12-9	19-15	5-6	39-29	9-9
Toronto Blue Jays	47	39	.547	6.5	23-19	9-10	6-4	9-6	35-25	12-14
Boston Red Sox	45	38	.542	7	16-19	9-9	14-7	6-3	40-27	5-11
New York Mets	45	38	.542	7	17-19	15-5	7-10	6-4	35-30	10-8
Houston Astros	45	39	.536	7.5	7-9	12-10	18-16	8-4	35-24	10-15
Miami Marlins	44	40	.524	8.5	16-23	10-4	14-6	4-7	31-34	13-6
Detroit Tigers	44	40	.524	8.5	12-8	12-18	10-10	10-4	31-30	13-10
St. Louis Cardinals	43	40	.518	9	8-6	20-15	10-9	5-10	31-27	12-13
Kansas City Royals	43	40	.518	9	8-10	21-11	6-10	8-9	34-34	9-6
Pittsburgh Pirates	43	41	.512	9.5	7-7	14-17	15-9	7-8	31-33	12-8
Chicago White Sox	43	41	.512	9.5	14-11	14-19	12-8	3-3	34-32	9-9
Seattle Mariners	43	41	.512	9.5	13-6	6-11	15-21	9-3	31-24	12-17
New York Yankees	41	42	.494	11	10-17	14-8	14-10	3-7	30-26	11-16
Philadelphia Phillies	39	46	.459	14	16-16	8-15	7-7	8-8	30-37	9-9
Colorado Rockies	38	45	.458	14	4-3	7-13	22-24	5-5	27-30	11-15
Milwaukee Brewers	37	46	.446	15	14-14	9-15	5-12	9-5	22-34	15-12
Arizona Diamondbacks	38	48	.442	15.5	9-7	7-13	17-21	5-7	26-34	12-14
Oakland Athletics	36	48	.429	16.5	7-12	10-9	14-18	5-9	27-36	9-12
San Diego Padres	36	48	.429	16.5	8-10	10-7	14-24	4-7	22-38	14-10
Tampa Bay Rays	34	49	.410	18	14-17	7-16	9-8	4-8	23-40	11-9
Los Angeles Angels	34	50	.405	18.5	3-12	10-9	15-20	6-9	25-35	9-15
Cincinnati Reds	31	54	.365	22	9-11	11-22	7-10	4-11	25-40	6-14
Minnesota Twins	28	55	.337	24	5-18	6-21	11-9	6-7	18-42	10-13
Atlanta Braves	28	56	.333	24.5	17-22	5-14	4-12	2-8	19-34	9-22

Standings are updated with the completion of each game.

Glossary

• W: Wins
• L: Losses
• PCT: Winning Percentage
• GB: Games Back
• EAST: Vs. East Division (in league)
• CENT: Vs. Central Division (in league)
• WEST: Vs. West Division (in league)
• INTR: Vs. Interleague opponents
• RHP: Vs. right-handed starters
• LHP: Vs. left-handed starters

With sweep of Mets, Nationals appear ready to run away with NL East

WASHINGTON -- We’re not even at the halfway point of the season. I get that. But we’re not far from it either. And right now, the Washington Nationals have the look of a team that’s about to disappear. In a good way.
Following a 4-2 victory Wednesday that gave them a sweep of the New York Mets -- you know, the team that was supposed to be Washington’s foil but instead is falling apart faster than a homemade burrito -- the Nats now have a 5 1/2-game lead in the National League East. And the team that’s directly behind them isn’t even the Mets anymore. Instead, it’s the Miami Marlins. That’s how badly the Nats beat up on their injury-riddled archrivals, outscoring them 20-6 during the three-game set to bump them all the way down to third place.
“It's nice to win three in a row, four if you count the Milwaukee game,” said Daniel Murphy, who homered twice against his former team Wednesday and now has 14 on the season, tying a career high. “We weren't playing the greatest baseball coming in, but it was nice to get home -- I thought the fans were awesome. And any time you can take three from a division opponent, a division opponent as good as the Mets, it's a good series. So we'll take it.”
“It's great to have this momentum,” added ace Max Scherzer, who struck out 10 and allowed just two hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings. “Hopefully we can keep going forward.”
Of course, that was the general idea 10 days ago, when Washington had a six-game lead and looked like it was about to dust the division, then promptly lost seven straight. Difference is, 10 days ago the Nats had just flown across the country and were in the early stages of a 10-game road trip that would feature, among other things, a date with Clayton Kershaw that was part of a three-game set with a Dodgers team that’s been one of the best in baseball at protecting its home turf.

Daniel Murphy's two-run homer in the eighth proved to be the difference Wednesday night. Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire

That’s a far cry from Wednesday, when Washington has to be licking its chops over the thought of seven straight home games against the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, two teams that are a combined 28 games under .500. If ever there was some time for the Nats to put some serious distance between themselves and the rest of the division, this is it.
Not that Dusty Baker wants to hear it.
“You can’t overlook anybody,” said the Nats manager. “I mean, the Reds almost swept us up in Cincinnati and Milwaukee almost swept us up in Milwaukee.”
But that was then and this is now. Which is to say, that was away and this is home. When it comes to the Reds and Brewers -- who have the two worst road records in the National League -- that matters.
Another thing that matters is that the Nationals, who rebuilt their division lead despite missing some key pieces, are about to get a whole lot healthier. Stephen Strasburg, one of baseball’s best pitchers but who has been on the disabled list since June 16, is eligible to be activated on Friday. Closer Jonathan Papelbon, out since June 13, threw a simulated game Wednesday and is close to returning. And that doesn’t even include stud prospect Lucas Giolito, who impressed in his big league debut on Tuesday and could be a regular part of the rotation before too long.
Add it all up, and the Nationals have the look of an extremely dangerous team. In a lackluster division where the overachieving Phillies have fallen off, the Braves were never in it, the Mets are banged up beyond recognition and the Marlins are, well, the Marlins, it’s conceivable that Washington could have a double-digit lead by the All-Star break.
For the time being, they’ll have to settle for half of that.
“We’ll take it at the halfway point,” said Murphy, jumping the gun by two games. “And we’re hoping to increase it.”

A big win -- or a big tease? -- for the Yankees

NEW YORK -- OK, so we've all seen this movie before -- several times this season alone, in fact. You know, the one in which the New York Yankees, a team everyone has counted out many times over its first three months, comes back to do something completely unexpected, igniting the hope that this time, they really, truly mean to make something of a generally miserable season.
They did it in the first series of the season, when they took two of three from the Houston Astros, the team that ended their 2015 postseason in slightly over three hours. They did it again in mid-May, when they strung together six consecutive victories, their longest winning streak of the season, and again about three weeks ago, when they swept a four-game series from the Angels.
Each time, it has turned out to be a snare and a delusion, and the transitory pleasure of becoming a .500 team -- a modest goal at best -- soon melted away in the despair of yet another losing streak.
And so things seemed to be headed south Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees found themselves three outs away from a third straight loss to the mighty Texas Rangers -- the fourth consecutive game in which they had allowed at least seven runs, a dubious distinction they hadn't achieved in nearly six years. A defeat would have dropped them a whopping 10 games behind the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles, and that would have been their biggest deficit since Sept. 7, 2014.
But then strange things began to happen. Sam Dyson -- the Rangers' closer who had blown just one save all season, had allowed just four earned runs in his previous 26 appearances and had every reason to believe he would not be used on this night with his team leading 7-3 -- was pressed into service when the first two Yankees reached base in the ninth inning.
The wheels immediately began to come off for Dyson and the Rangers. Brett Gardner singled and center fielder Ian Desmond fumbled the ball, allowing a run to score. Alex Rodriguez lined hard to second, but what looked like a potential double-play ball, or maybe even a game-ending triple play, went for just one out as the Yankees baserunners fortuitously held their positions.
And then Brian McCann, brought here on a four-year deal specifically to exploit the stadium's short right-field wall, powered one over that wall -- his second of the game and in fact second in the final two innings -- to tie the game at 7. Dyson, rattled, walked Starlin Castro and then hung a changeup to Didi Gregorius, who lined it into the right-field seats.
Just like that, the Yankees had a 9-7 win, and not just any win, but an improbable, rousing, tantalizing and quite possibly horribly misleading win.
"Probably the biggest win of the year for us," Rodriguez said.
"A win we really had to fight for. They should be excited in there," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, adding he hoped the quick turnaround before Thursday's 1:05 p.m. ET start would help the feeling carry over.

Didi Gregorius' two-run homer capped an improbable rally Wednesday, but "the biggest is yet to come" for the 38-39 Yankees, the shortstop said. Noah K. Murray/USA TODAY Sports

"This one can be huge," said McCann, a man not given to overstatement, or, to be honest, much statement of any kind.
And it might well be. But as noted earlier, we've seen this movie before, and it has yet to have a happy ending. And for eight innings, even this one was a bit of a horror show. Masahiro Tanaka once again was ineffective working on "regular" four days' rest, allowing six earned runs in six innings, four of them in a third inning in which the Rangers were playing pinball with his splitter. Aside from Chase Headley's second-inning home run, the offense wasn't doing much, managing only three hits off Texas starter Nick Martinez, who came in with a 5.54 ERA. They scraped across a second run in the sixth and a third on McCann's first home run of the night, but this one had all the makings of another dispiriting loss and a looming Rangers sweep in Thursday afternoon's series finale.
But sometimes movies take unexpected plot twists, and this one took a doozy. Credit not only goes to Gregorius and McCann, but to Jacoby Ellsbury, who easily could have been doubled off on A-Rod's lineout, which might well have been a backbreaker. And believe it or not -- and considering the way the Yankees have played for much of this season, it's probably easy to believe -- but this was the first time all season the Yankees had come back to win a game they were trailing after eight innings; previously, they had been 0-36. It was also the first time they scored six runs in the ninth inning of a game since May 12, 2010.
Add it all up and it comes out to a win that could be a season-changer.
Or it could be just another cruel tease, that moment of false hope just before the hero falls down an open elevator shaft.
"Well, it feels better [than just another win], and you hope it gives you some momentum," said Girardi, who has been let down too many times already this season to react with unbridled enthusiasm.

Not so for Gregorius, for whom this was the first walk-off home run in the major leagues, and indeed his only walk-off, with the exception of one for the Dutch national team in 2010, one of the pre-MLB exploits that earned him the soubriquet "Sir Didi."
Sir Didi refused to anoint this the biggest Yankees win of the season for a most optimistic reason. Having been a member of the cast that has let its fan base down more often than not over the first 77 games, Gregorius believes that this time the ending will be different.
“I’ll say the biggest is yet to come," he said. "I think we’re a team trying to play better, so a lot of stuff is going to happen. We’re going to play better baseball from now on, so a lot more to come.”

• McCann briefly grabbed his knee rounding first after hitting his eighth-inning home run. He said he has been suffering from patella tendinitis and that the injury "grabbed" on him running the bases. But after testing it with some squats in the dugout between innings, the 32-year-old determined it was well enough to play on, and he went out to hit the game-tying home run. "It's fine," he said. "It's nothing unusual for a catcher to have."