Cliff Lee dominant as Texas Rangers win first-ever playoff series
It took some time, but the Texas Rangers have finally won a playoff series. On Tuesday, the Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 to advance to the American League Conference Series
and will now host the New York Yankees on Friday in Game 1 for the AL pennant.
Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee was once again his dominant self and continued to add to an impressive post-season resume. Lee tossed a complete game six-hitter, striking out 11 along the way
without walking a single batter.
"It was a lot of fun, I know that much," Lee said. "We had our back against the wall today and we came out and performed."
In seven career post-game starts, Lee remains a perfect 6-0 with an impressive 1.44 ERA. Lee won both games he started against the Rays winning Game 1 with an equally impressive start.
Lee finished the series with 21 strikeouts in 16 innings without walking a batter.
"I don't think you can ask any more of a guy," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
"We got him to help us win ballgames. We also got him to do what he did tonight," Washington said. "But he can't do it by himself, and the guys backed him up. They put runs on the board.
They played their hearts out."
The Rangers got on the board early scoring in the first inning when Elvis Andrus scored from second after Josh Hamilton grounded out to first.
The Rays were able to tie the score in the bottom of the third when Ben Zorbists’s RBI single scored Sean Rodriquez from second. The Rangers then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning and
added another run in the top of the sixth to build a 3-1 lead. Ian Kinsler then put the game away for the Rangers in the top of the ninth, hitting a two-run shot for a 5-1 lead. It was a three-up and three-down inning for Lee and the Rangers in the bottom
of the ninth, giving the franchise their first playoff series win.
"I'm a believer in momentum. I'm a believer that you have to believe you can do it and this club does," Rangers president and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan said. "This club has done
it coming out of spring training. Then we were able to put some pieces together to complement the ballclub, and obviously the biggest acquisition was Cliff because he gave us that lead horse in the pitching staff."
Rays pitcher David Price, who was a 19-game winner in the regular season, gave up eight hits and three earned runs in six innings of work. He went 0-2 against Lee in the series having
also lost Game 1.
After the game Lee commented on facing the Yankees.
"They're a great team and that's why they are where they are," Lee said. "They're going to be a good challenge, just like these guys."
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