8-1. The Rangers first road trip of 2012 was the best in their entire history, an 8-1 trip through Minnesota, Boston and Detroit that has now left no doubt this team still has its sights firmly set on getting to the post-season again.

13-3. The best 16-game start in Texas Rangers history.

This team is playing so well, even their negative statistics take a positive tone. To wit: The only Rangers starter to have a loss on their record is Neftali Feliz, who dropped the 3-2 decision in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader with the Tigers. So what Rangers pitcher is the only one with a complete game this season? Feliz, of course, in Game 2 of yesterday’s doubleheader.

The Rangers have lost only three times in 13 games, all by one run. In other words, at the 10% point of the season, Texas has been in EVERY game to the end. Nobody has blown them out.

To be certain, there are still red flags. Red flag #2 cropped up in Game 1 of the twin bill Saturday, when Adrian Beltre tweaked his hamstring. Beltre doesn’t think it’s serious and expects to only miss a few games. I’d love to take his word for it, but Beltre missed almost a month towards the end of the regular season in 2011 with a bad hammy and you can’t help but worry he is going to start having these problems more and more as he moves into his mid-30’s. Maybe he will only miss a few games this time. But maybe he’ll have another problem later on in the season. Texas has already had enough problems with Nelson Cruz’ hamstring problems (5 DL trips in 2 seasons). They don’t need another one.

Red Flag #1, Joe Nathan, got the save in the series finale Sunday, but Rangers fans had to breathe a sigh of relief when Prince Fielder just missed getting a hold of Nathan’s first pitch. Instead of a walk-off two-run homer, Fielder ended up with a foul out just a couple of feet short of the right field foul pole.

Robbie Ross, meantime, continues to lead a charmed life. The only rookie on the pitching staff is now 3-0, all the wins coming on this road trip. The only other Rangers rookie to approach Ross in recent years is Alexi Ogando, who started his Rangers career in 2010 with wins in each of his first three appearances, along with a base hit in his first major league at bat in Interleague play.

Best of all, Texas won today in a game which they easily could have lost. They were facing the one pitcher known to always give Rangers hitters fits: a rookie left-hander whom they’d never faced before. Drew Smyly gave up a first inning home run to Josh Hamilton, but that was his only blemish as he went six strong, giving up 5 hits and striking out 7 Rangers. Fortunately, Colby Lewis pretty much matched him, throwing seven innings of 2-run ball. Lewis has only walked one batter all year in 19.2 innings. Still, Lewis trailed 2-1 when he departed the game. It took an 8th inning walk to Elvis Andrus, followed by a wild pitch, error and Hamilton sac fly to tie it up. Then a bases loaded squeeze bunt in the 11th that ended up becoming an Alberto Gonzalez infield single proved to be the deciding run of the game.

It was the Rangers only trip to Comerica Park in Detroit this season. The only way they see it again is if it’s a playoff game, which could very well happen.

Best road trip ever and no chance to savor it. The Yankees visit Arlington tomorrow night. No rest for the weary. This fan, though, will savor it for the next 24 hours.