The Rays Eliminate the Rangers by Jerry Feitelberg
The Tampa Bay Rays had to travel to Texas to play the Rangers in a one game playoff to determine who would go to Cleveland and face the Indians in the one game Wild Card playoff. The Rays and Rangers both ended the season at 91-71. The Rangers had won seven in a row and the Rays were hot,too. The Rays entered the game having won nine out of their last eleven.
It was a battle of left handers. The Rays sent their ace, David Price, to the hill. Price was 0-3 against the Rangers in the playoffs but he won the Cy Young Award last year and could be tough if he had his stuff working for him. The Rangers countered with Martin Perez was was 10-5 during the season and was especially strong in the latter half of the season. It was Price’s night as he pitched a complete game
and the Rays won the game 5-2 and now are on their way to Cleveland to play in the Wild Card elimination game.
The Rays took an early 1-0 lead in their half of the first inning. A walk, two singles and a sacrifice fly put the Rays in the lead. The Rays made it 3-0 in the third. Desmond Jennings walked and scored
when Evan Longoria hit his 32nd home run of the year. The Rangers got on the board in the bottom of the third. Craig Gentry singled then advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Ian Kinsler. Rays lead 3-1 after three.
The Rays and Rangers both scored in the sixth. Rangers’ manager Ron Washington took Perez out in the sixth with one out. Alexi Ogando in to pitch. Evan Longoria greeted him by with a double to right center. The Rays sent up former Athletic, David DeJesus was sent up to pinch hit and DeJesus came through as he hit a double to right to drive in Longoria. The Rangers came back when Elvis Andrus singled and then stole second. Alex Rios doubled to drive in Andrus and the Rangers trail 4-2 after six.
There was no more scoring until the ninth. Tanner Scheppers was now pitching for Texas and he gave up a leadoff single to Sam Fuld. Fuld advanced to second on a ground out. Fuld then attempted to steal third base. Scheppers throw went into left field allowing Fuld to score the Rays’ fifth run of the game.
Rays manager, Joe Maddon, let David Price continue pitching and his decision paid off as Price
set the Rangers down in order to close out the game. Rays win 5-2.
Game notes- The Rays finish the regular season 92-71 and the Rangers 91-72. Evan Longoria had three hits- a single, double and home run in addition to a walk.
The umpires missed a call in the seventh inning. The Rays had two men on with two out when Delmon Young hit a bloop to shallow center field. The Rangers’ Leonys Martin appeared to have made a fantastic catch but the replays showed that he trapped the ball. The left field umpire had responsibility for the call and he did not get it right. Rays’ skipper Joe Maddon did not argue the call but it cost the Rays a run.
After the game, David Price said when asked about his poor record against Texas said “ I beat them the last time out” and that pitching a complete game was “pretty special.” When asked if he lobbied Joe Maddon to pitch the eighth and nine innings he said no. He said that Maddon “let me go and I appreciate that.
The AL Wild Card elimination game will be played Wednesday in Cleveland. Alex Cobb will go for the Rays and he will be opposed by Danny Salazar.
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