Posted on 10/04/2011 2:59:21 PM PDT by txroadkill
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rangers' ultimate goal is to return to the World Series and this time win it. The American League West champions have just removed another obstacle by taking down the Rays in the AL Division Series on their home turf.
Adrian Beltre hit a record-tying three home runs as the Rangers advanced to the AL Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Ian Kinsler also hit a home run on the second pitch of the game from Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. They led the rest of the way and are returning to the ALCS for the second straight year after their fifth straight win at Tropicana Field over the past two postseasons.
The Rangers, after winning three of four from the Rays, now await the winner of the other ALDS between the Tigers and the Yankees. The Tigers lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday night. If the Tigers win, the Rangers will host them for Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night in Arlington. They will be in New York on Saturday if the Yankees come back to beat the Tigers.
"It's great ... it's one of the main reasons I came to this team," Beltre said. "We're looking good right now, but we have a long way to go."
(Excerpt) Read more at texas.rangers.mlb.com ...
Poor TBS, their team lost! :-D
Gee the Red Sox probably could have done that well.
I’ll love nothing better than to see the Yankees follow the Rays to the off season.
Especially after the way they bent over for Tampa’s “amazing comeback”. No - I don’t think they threw the game to the Rays, I just can’t stand the Yankees.
Given the Sox clubhouse shenanigans, they didn’t deserve to be in the ALCS. What is sad is that Tito’s players allowed him to throw himself under the bus. The Sox lose one of the best managers in baseball seemingly because the ownership and management won’t stand behind him when he tries to discipline the multi-million dollar divas when they drink and whine.
Ellsbury deserves to play on a better team. Youk, JD “Mr Personality” Drew, Crawford, and Gonzales should be shown the door. As should boy genius Epstein.
Why couldn’t Beltre play like that for the Mariners?
Cuz they were the Mariners, I guess.
Sounds like a bizarre game that was probably worth missing. A team hits four home runs and wins by a 4-2 score? When was the last time THAT happened?
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