Rangers, Giants win key games
Giants vs Phillies
Cody Ross has earned the nickname "Mr. October" by fans, press and teammates. If he keeps it up, and so do the Giants, he might take over Reggie Jackson for a year.
Ross hit a key RBI single in the fourth inning to power the Giants past the Phillies 3-0 to give San Francisco a 2-1 series lead. Aubrey Huff and Freddy Sanchez also knocked in runs with infield singles.
Neither pitcher gave up a hit until 2.1 innings were in the books, but then Carlos Ruiz hit a one-out single off of Matt Cain. Shane Victorino was hit by a pitch, leaving Chase Utley up with 2 outs.
Utley couldn't come through, and he grounded out to shortstop to end the inning. The Phillies got a good chance in the fourth, but Raul Ibanez went down swinging at a high fastball. The Phillies stranded a total of 8 runners on base.
In the bottom of the fourth Edgar Renteria singled, and he advanced to second on Freddy Sanchez's sacrifice bunt. After Buster Posey struck out and Pat Burrell walked Mr. October came up, and he hit a splitter into left field, scoring Renteria. After that Aubrey Huff hit an infield single, and it scored Pat Burrell.
In the bottom of the fifth Aaron Rowand decided to add to that. He hit the first pitch of the inning, a splitter, down the left field line for a double. After 2 quick outs Freddy Sanchez hit a grounder to Utley. Although it was a very hard play, Utley couldn't make it, and Rowand made it a 3-0 game.
Matt Cain got 3 straight outs, forcing Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard to ground out to second and Jayson Werth to fly out. In the top of the seventh Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch, and Ross Gload walked, but he got Shane Victorino to ground out to second.
Cain's night was done after that, and lefty Javier Lopez came in to face the heart of the Phillie lineup. However, none of them reached base, as Lopez shut them down. After the Giants failed to score the Phils came up for one last time.
Closer Brian Wilson, who had 51 saves (48 regular season, 3 postseason) came in to try to shut down the Phillies. Wilson got Jayson Werth chasing a 2-2 slider, then he allowed a line drive off the right field wall to Jimmy Rollins. However, Rollins would not go to second. This would cost the Phillies.
Raul Ibanez grounded out to Freddy Sanchez, who flipped the ball to Renteria. Renteria threw it to Huff to complete the double play, and the game. Madison Bumgardner faces Joe Blanton in Game 4.
Rangers at Yankees
4 home runs and 7 runs batted in with the home runs make a difference in any game. But this game, a lot more than any other game.
Bengie Molina jacked a go-ahead, 3 run shot in the sixth, Josh Hamilton went deep twice as the Rangers beat the Yankees 10-3 to take a 3-1 series lead in the ALCS.
It looked to be a pitchers battle early, but then Robinson Cano hit a hanging curveball deep into left field. Nelson Cruz leapt up to catch it, but a fan got in the way. The ball landed in the first row, and no fan interference was called.
After the second out Lance Berkman hit a deep shot to left, and it was called a home run. But after another stoppage in play, this time to review the call, the play was reversed. Berkman was retired, and the Yanks had a 1-0 lead.
However, after 2 perfect innings A.J Burnett started to cool down. Burnett walked a batter and hit a batter, then both runners advanced on a grounder. Elvis Andrus grounded out to first, and David Murphy scored.
With 2 outs Michael Young came out, and he hit one at the edge of the infield grass. Alex Rodriguez couldn't get the throw off, and Bengie Molina scored. Texas had a 2-1 lead.
After 2 quick outs Derek Jeter came up, and he hit a hanging curveball deep into center field. 2 feet higher the ball would have went over the fence, but Jeter still scored 3 bases. Curtis Granderson hit a ball into the hole, and he reached, scoring Jeter.
New York piled on the runners again in the fourth. After the bases were loaded with one out Brett Gardner grounded out into the hole in between short and third. Elvis Andrus made a great play to retire Robinson Cano at third, but A-Rod scored, giving New York a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth, Nelson Cruz walked and David Murphy was intentionally walked for Bengie Molina. Burnett tried to throw the first pitch low and away, but it missed it's target. It cut right into the inside part of the plate, and Molina cracked it deep into the seats. Texas led 5-3 after the homer.
With 2 outs in the seventh Josh Hamilton joined the party, hitting an inside fastball a mile high. The ball landed in the seats, and the Rangers had a 6-3 lead. Vlad Guerrero doubled, and he scored on an opposite field single by Ian Kinsler.
But New York got it going in the eighth. 3 walks got the bases loaded, but a shallow pop-up by Nick Swisher and a grounder by Lance Berkman ended the inning.
In the ninth, Hamilton hit one into the bullpen in right field. After Vlad Guerrero singled Nelson Cruz hit a slider deep into left field for the fourth Ranger homer of the game. Texas won the game 10-3.
Game 5 is at 1:07 PM PT with C.J Wilson facing C.C Sabathia.
Cody Ross has earned the nickname "Mr. October" by fans, press and teammates. If he keeps it up, and so do the Giants, he might take over Reggie Jackson for a year.
Ross hit a key RBI single in the fourth inning to power the Giants past the Phillies 3-0 to give San Francisco a 2-1 series lead. Aubrey Huff and Freddy Sanchez also knocked in runs with infield singles.
Neither pitcher gave up a hit until 2.1 innings were in the books, but then Carlos Ruiz hit a one-out single off of Matt Cain. Shane Victorino was hit by a pitch, leaving Chase Utley up with 2 outs.
Utley couldn't come through, and he grounded out to shortstop to end the inning. The Phillies got a good chance in the fourth, but Raul Ibanez went down swinging at a high fastball. The Phillies stranded a total of 8 runners on base.
In the bottom of the fourth Edgar Renteria singled, and he advanced to second on Freddy Sanchez's sacrifice bunt. After Buster Posey struck out and Pat Burrell walked Mr. October came up, and he hit a splitter into left field, scoring Renteria. After that Aubrey Huff hit an infield single, and it scored Pat Burrell.
In the bottom of the fifth Aaron Rowand decided to add to that. He hit the first pitch of the inning, a splitter, down the left field line for a double. After 2 quick outs Freddy Sanchez hit a grounder to Utley. Although it was a very hard play, Utley couldn't make it, and Rowand made it a 3-0 game.
Matt Cain got 3 straight outs, forcing Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard to ground out to second and Jayson Werth to fly out. In the top of the seventh Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch, and Ross Gload walked, but he got Shane Victorino to ground out to second.
Cain's night was done after that, and lefty Javier Lopez came in to face the heart of the Phillie lineup. However, none of them reached base, as Lopez shut them down. After the Giants failed to score the Phils came up for one last time.
Closer Brian Wilson, who had 51 saves (48 regular season, 3 postseason) came in to try to shut down the Phillies. Wilson got Jayson Werth chasing a 2-2 slider, then he allowed a line drive off the right field wall to Jimmy Rollins. However, Rollins would not go to second. This would cost the Phillies.
Raul Ibanez grounded out to Freddy Sanchez, who flipped the ball to Renteria. Renteria threw it to Huff to complete the double play, and the game. Madison Bumgardner faces Joe Blanton in Game 4.
Rangers at Yankees
4 home runs and 7 runs batted in with the home runs make a difference in any game. But this game, a lot more than any other game.
Bengie Molina jacked a go-ahead, 3 run shot in the sixth, Josh Hamilton went deep twice as the Rangers beat the Yankees 10-3 to take a 3-1 series lead in the ALCS.
It looked to be a pitchers battle early, but then Robinson Cano hit a hanging curveball deep into left field. Nelson Cruz leapt up to catch it, but a fan got in the way. The ball landed in the first row, and no fan interference was called.
After the second out Lance Berkman hit a deep shot to left, and it was called a home run. But after another stoppage in play, this time to review the call, the play was reversed. Berkman was retired, and the Yanks had a 1-0 lead.
However, after 2 perfect innings A.J Burnett started to cool down. Burnett walked a batter and hit a batter, then both runners advanced on a grounder. Elvis Andrus grounded out to first, and David Murphy scored.
With 2 outs Michael Young came out, and he hit one at the edge of the infield grass. Alex Rodriguez couldn't get the throw off, and Bengie Molina scored. Texas had a 2-1 lead.
After 2 quick outs Derek Jeter came up, and he hit a hanging curveball deep into center field. 2 feet higher the ball would have went over the fence, but Jeter still scored 3 bases. Curtis Granderson hit a ball into the hole, and he reached, scoring Jeter.
New York piled on the runners again in the fourth. After the bases were loaded with one out Brett Gardner grounded out into the hole in between short and third. Elvis Andrus made a great play to retire Robinson Cano at third, but A-Rod scored, giving New York a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth, Nelson Cruz walked and David Murphy was intentionally walked for Bengie Molina. Burnett tried to throw the first pitch low and away, but it missed it's target. It cut right into the inside part of the plate, and Molina cracked it deep into the seats. Texas led 5-3 after the homer.
With 2 outs in the seventh Josh Hamilton joined the party, hitting an inside fastball a mile high. The ball landed in the seats, and the Rangers had a 6-3 lead. Vlad Guerrero doubled, and he scored on an opposite field single by Ian Kinsler.
But New York got it going in the eighth. 3 walks got the bases loaded, but a shallow pop-up by Nick Swisher and a grounder by Lance Berkman ended the inning.
In the ninth, Hamilton hit one into the bullpen in right field. After Vlad Guerrero singled Nelson Cruz hit a slider deep into left field for the fourth Ranger homer of the game. Texas won the game 10-3.
Game 5 is at 1:07 PM PT with C.J Wilson facing C.C Sabathia.
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