Injury stricken Evan Longoria aides the Rays in the Rangers’ annihilation (Part 3)
The Texas Rangers were up against a tough competitor in their 4thday of the playoff series against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rangers Ballpark. Their 4th encounter was to be the final time they crossed swords
with the visitors if they managed to come out on Sunday as the victors. However, for the visiting American League East Division kings, the fixture signified an attempt at a save in the post season. With the sides playing in the West Division Champions’ home,
there was always going to be a special fact going into the bout.
The Texans had never won a playoff encounter at home and that was a tantalizing reality to fathom at the time when both mammoths collided to decide their fates in the coming days. While their path to the playoffs has been a tough
one to say the least, Minnesota were beaten for the third time in a row to make their exit from the bid for the main title. The New York Yankees were the ones to do away with Central champs and they sit in the next stage, as the remaining two sides in the
American League contest to figure out who goes forth.
Wade Davis was pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays and till the bottom 3rd inning he conceded no runs, doing away with the strong Rangers on the batting plate. Unfortunately, the same was not the case for Tommy Hunter who
starred in the beginning for the Texas ball club. The dependable youngster was up against some of the top players in the Tampa Bay club and he was paid in full, in terms of runs. The Rays were up 3 – 0 in the fixture and it was the end of the top 4th inning.
The Rangers were down in the bottom 4th and facing Wade Davis on the mound didn’t improve their chances in the game as they lost all men to the shining star for the Floridians. The strong ball thrower managed to strike
out Nelson Cruz and Danny Murphy. From the look of things, the visitors were on the top of the game and the hosts were reeling.
The top 5th began with Rays’ John Jaso grounding out to the first. Ben Zobrist came in next and made an infield single to shortstop. Carl Crawford came in next but walked back into the dugout when he popped out to shortstop.
Bengie Molina from the Rangers then made a weak pass for the Texans which resulted in Zobrist making it to the second.
With the match closing in on half time, Evan Longoria introduced himself to the fielders and sparked a chiselling pitch from reliever Derek Holland for a massive 425 feet homer to the left. With Ben running through the diamond
first, Rays went up 5 – 0.
The night looked over for the Texans and much was to be had in respect to the time left on the game. The 5th inning closed in and none of the hitters connected. It wasn’t till the bottom 6th that the Rangers
scored the first run of the match. Nelson Cruz delivered the blow when he slamming homer, 404 feet long, to the right centre. The move got the hosts to their first run and the inning was far from over. Ian Kinsler singled to the right centre and he went to
the second base when Danny Murphy grounded out to the catcher. Mitch Moreland was the next man to walk in and he made the right move by placing the ball on the right for a double. Kinsler was able to make it for the 2nd run. But that marked the
last team both teams scored.
Texas lost the game 5 – 2 and wasted a chance to go through. As for the Rays, they pushed a 5th game and they will have a chance to make it to the next stage if they manage to oust the Rangers for the 3rd consecutive
time.
Tags: