Rangers vs Rays
Cliff Lee is truly a great pitcher when it comes down to the playoffs. He has proven that he can pitch well in clutch games.
Just ask the Tampa Bay Rays.
Lee pitched a complete game, and Texas beat Tampa Bay 5-1. Lee struck out 11, using his curveball and slider to help him record strikeouts. Lee struck out 21 batters in the ALDS, tying a record.
Lee, who beat Cy Young candidate David Price twice in the series, allowed just 1 run, coming on a single by Ben Zobrist. In his final six innings of work, Lee allowed just 2 hits and no runs, and he struck out 10 batters over that period.
Elvis Andrus led the game off with a single, and he stole second. Josh Hamilton hit a grounder, but the Rays were so busy at first they didn't notice Elvis Andrus coming home to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
Jason Bartlett led the game off with a single, but Ben Zobrist, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena were no help. They couldn't knock him in, and the score remained 1-0.
In the second inning Bengie Molina singled and stole second, but the Rangers couldn't knock him in. After one inning of nothing Tampa Bay decided to get going. Kelly Shoppach grounded out, but then Tampa Bay got started.
Sean Rodriguez got a base with a single to right, then Jason Bartlett hit a bunt single. After Ben Zobrist lined a single to center the game was even at 1. Although Jason Bartlett was caught in a rundown trying to score and the Rays couldn't score, they had evened the game 1-1.
After 2 quick outs by Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton Nelson Cruz came up. Cruz had 3 homers and 3 RBI's in the 4 ALDS games, and he added to that by hitting a curveball off the center field wall. Cruz tried to steal third, and Kelly Shoppach's throw was high, so Cruz scored. Texas led 2-1.
After 3 innings, Cliff Lee had allowed 4 hits and one run. He decided to get the game going. So he started to work his curveball and slider to get some K's. And it was a good strategy.
Carlos Pena and B.J Upton struck out watching a curveball come into the strike zone, and then Dan Johnson went down chasing a slider to end the inning. After Texas made nothing of an Elvis Andrus single the Rays came up again.
Kelly Shoppach flied out, then he got Sean Rodriguez chasing a single. After Bartlett doubled Zobrist struck out watching a curveball. After 5 innings the Rangers had a 2-1 lead.
Vlad Guerrero singled to start the sixth, then Nelson Cruz reached on an infield hit. Ian Kinsler hit a grounder, and while David Price was focusing on the call at first Guerrero came home. Kelly Shoppach failed to put the tag on him, and the Rangers led 3-1. David Price would come out after 6 innings, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs.
Crawford and Longoria started the sixth off, but they both flied out on curveballs. Carlos Pena came up next and struck out chasing a slider, ending the inning.
In the seventh B.J Upton singled and stole second, but after Willy Aybar struck out, Shoppach popped up and Rodriguez struck out watching a slider Lee got out of the inning with just 2 left.
Guerrero ended the eighth by grounding into a double play, but it didn't matter to Cliff Lee. He finally retired Bartlett, then he got Ben Zobrist swinging at a slider in the dirt. Carl Crawford lined out, and Texas was 3 outs away.
After Nelson Cruz singled Ian Kinsler came up, and closer Rafael Soriano went for a breaking ball. Kinsler was fine with that. All he did was blast the ball into the seats for extra run support. Not that Cliff Lee needed it.
After Evan Longoria struck out swinging at a high fastball Carlos Pena came up, and he grounded out to third. B.J Upton swung at a curveball, and he got a bad piece of it. Andrus retired it to end the game, and send Texas on to the next series.
The Rangers will face the Yankees, who will have C.C Sabathia going in Game 1. Since Cliff Lee threw 120 pitches and would only have 3 days of rest, Lee won't pitch until Game 3. C.J Wilson will pitch the first game against Sabathia, and either Colby Lewis or Tommy Hunter will start game 2 against Andy Pettite for the Yanks.
Series Predictions
Pick: Giants 4, Phillies 3
Pick: Yankees 4, Rangers 2
World Series: Yankees 4, Giants 2
Just ask the Tampa Bay Rays.
Lee pitched a complete game, and Texas beat Tampa Bay 5-1. Lee struck out 11, using his curveball and slider to help him record strikeouts. Lee struck out 21 batters in the ALDS, tying a record.
Lee, who beat Cy Young candidate David Price twice in the series, allowed just 1 run, coming on a single by Ben Zobrist. In his final six innings of work, Lee allowed just 2 hits and no runs, and he struck out 10 batters over that period.
Elvis Andrus led the game off with a single, and he stole second. Josh Hamilton hit a grounder, but the Rays were so busy at first they didn't notice Elvis Andrus coming home to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
Jason Bartlett led the game off with a single, but Ben Zobrist, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena were no help. They couldn't knock him in, and the score remained 1-0.
In the second inning Bengie Molina singled and stole second, but the Rangers couldn't knock him in. After one inning of nothing Tampa Bay decided to get going. Kelly Shoppach grounded out, but then Tampa Bay got started.
Sean Rodriguez got a base with a single to right, then Jason Bartlett hit a bunt single. After Ben Zobrist lined a single to center the game was even at 1. Although Jason Bartlett was caught in a rundown trying to score and the Rays couldn't score, they had evened the game 1-1.
After 2 quick outs by Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton Nelson Cruz came up. Cruz had 3 homers and 3 RBI's in the 4 ALDS games, and he added to that by hitting a curveball off the center field wall. Cruz tried to steal third, and Kelly Shoppach's throw was high, so Cruz scored. Texas led 2-1.
After 3 innings, Cliff Lee had allowed 4 hits and one run. He decided to get the game going. So he started to work his curveball and slider to get some K's. And it was a good strategy.
Carlos Pena and B.J Upton struck out watching a curveball come into the strike zone, and then Dan Johnson went down chasing a slider to end the inning. After Texas made nothing of an Elvis Andrus single the Rays came up again.
Kelly Shoppach flied out, then he got Sean Rodriguez chasing a single. After Bartlett doubled Zobrist struck out watching a curveball. After 5 innings the Rangers had a 2-1 lead.
Vlad Guerrero singled to start the sixth, then Nelson Cruz reached on an infield hit. Ian Kinsler hit a grounder, and while David Price was focusing on the call at first Guerrero came home. Kelly Shoppach failed to put the tag on him, and the Rangers led 3-1. David Price would come out after 6 innings, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs.
Crawford and Longoria started the sixth off, but they both flied out on curveballs. Carlos Pena came up next and struck out chasing a slider, ending the inning.
In the seventh B.J Upton singled and stole second, but after Willy Aybar struck out, Shoppach popped up and Rodriguez struck out watching a slider Lee got out of the inning with just 2 left.
Guerrero ended the eighth by grounding into a double play, but it didn't matter to Cliff Lee. He finally retired Bartlett, then he got Ben Zobrist swinging at a slider in the dirt. Carl Crawford lined out, and Texas was 3 outs away.
After Nelson Cruz singled Ian Kinsler came up, and closer Rafael Soriano went for a breaking ball. Kinsler was fine with that. All he did was blast the ball into the seats for extra run support. Not that Cliff Lee needed it.
After Evan Longoria struck out swinging at a high fastball Carlos Pena came up, and he grounded out to third. B.J Upton swung at a curveball, and he got a bad piece of it. Andrus retired it to end the game, and send Texas on to the next series.
The Rangers will face the Yankees, who will have C.C Sabathia going in Game 1. Since Cliff Lee threw 120 pitches and would only have 3 days of rest, Lee won't pitch until Game 3. C.J Wilson will pitch the first game against Sabathia, and either Colby Lewis or Tommy Hunter will start game 2 against Andy Pettite for the Yanks.
Series Predictions
Pick: Giants 4, Phillies 3
Pick: Yankees 4, Rangers 2
World Series: Yankees 4, Giants 2
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