PHOENIX — Things really are going right for the Rangers these days.
Not even an abortive takeoff seemed to faze them.
The Rangers’ charter flight, on a New Pacific Airlines 757 charter, following Sunday’s 9-6 win over the Athletics in Sacramento ran into issues upon leaving the terminal and the takeoff was aborted as the plane was taxiing. The mechanical issue was not disclosed.
It led to an unexpeceted extra night in Sacramento because it required bringing in an a new jet. It also required the Rangers to change their travel plans to travel on game day, a highly unusual schedule for them.
Rangers
Quick-acting Rangers director team travel Josh Shelton was able to get the team into a Sheraton without much of a delay. Shelton said the team got to the Sacramento hotel about 9 or 9:30 p.m PT Sunday. The new jet arrived overnight and the club was able to take off for Phoenix at 9:30 a.m. PT Monday. The flight arrived in Phoenix without issue at 10:59 a.m. The Rangers did not do any on-field activities prior to Monday’s 7:10 CT start.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who has been in professional baseball for 50 seasons, said he’s had multiple delays with flights and previous changes of aircraft, but never had a takeoff aborted in progress.
The Rangers apparently took the issue in good spirits, though there was some light razzing of the travel director.
“Nothing like when we played,” said co-hitting instructor Bret Boone. “I told these guys they actually have manners.”
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