One man Longoria show busts the Rangers out
If the Tampa Bay Rays wanted a better series, most would agree that this proved to be exactly that. Coming on top against a western division leader is not an easy task. Especially for a team that has been dragged neck to neck, by the New York Yankees in the Eastern Division for the top position. But that’s not true when your squad entails a fiery, in-form Evan Longoria. Unfortunately, for the Texas Rangers, it doesn’t feel right to be 7 games above the Los Angeles Angels when the team could be 10 wins apart and on top of the runner ups.
The Tampa Bay Rays were facing their 900th game since their inauguration in the league in 1998, and it was a fixture that mattered a lot; to the team and the fans alike. It was a match to remember and nothing would make a victory sweeter than having Evan Longoria shining bright in the night. A scene which would be stamped in historic annuls as an exhibition for future generations to aspire to. The bout was a fabled encounter, as the Florida based ball club were facing their potential playoff rivals. For the occasion, James Shield found himself back on the pitching mound, facing off with the Rangers in the strike zone.
The Texas side were pummelling in the series. As the Rays were collecting more points with their wins, the visiting team was losing their lead to the Angels in the American League Western Division. Fighting for pride and honour, the Rangers fielded a youngster in the form of Derek Holland. With two wins and a loss to his name before the fixture, the 23 year old brought in a year’s experience. However, that wouldn’t help the pitcher as Evan Longoria was boosting in top form.
The Rangers started the batting session but lost the scoring initiative to the Rays who started their crusade for victory with Longoria. The experienced hitter began the match with a shivering strike to the deep centre for a double. Carl Crawford scored off the strike, and while Longoria reached second base, he cleared last base to put the first run on the board for Tampa Bay.
Longoria’s role would not end there as the versatile striker went ahead by putting Derek Holland to the sword in the bottom 4th, as he banged a 385 feet homer to the left. The Rangers would muster up the mentality to respond with Taylor Teagarden. The batter smashed a 429 foot homer to the left centre for the ball club’s first run in the top 5th.
B.J. Upton would strike for the Tampa Bay side as the bottom 5th would come into session. The in-form pitch banger, slammed a 406 footer to the left, getting another run to the board, and increasing the score tally to 3 runs for the Rays. Longoria would not sit quietly as his double to the deep centre put Jason Bartlett through the last gate for another run. Alexi Ogando relieved Holland in the same innings, but Crawford scored again as the replacement pitcher walked Matt Joyce to first base.
In the top 6th, Texas replied, but through a huge lift by an error as Shield’s wild pitch got Andres Blanco through to the dugout for the team’s second run. The Rays in the bottom 6th wouldn’t give up as Upton scored again with Crawford’s sacrifice fly to the centre. Kelly Shoppach got on the score sheet too, in the bottom 7th when M Joyce singled to the right.
The Rangers would eventually pick up their pace with Joaquin Arias scoring off Andreas Blanco’s grounder shot to the second. Julio Borbon added in the 4th for Texas as Josh Hamilton grounded out to third. But then again, this was to be Longoria’s night as the hitter got back into action in the bottom 8th with a sacrifice fly to the right, which led to Bartlett scoring from the third base he had stole earlier, for the Rays’ final 8th run.
The night however wasn’t over as the Rangers proved their strength when Mitch Moreland smashed a 2-run, 408 foot homer to the right centre. Jorge Cantu was the baseman to lead the walk to the dugout when the ball went into the stands. With that effort, no further runs came through as the game ended with Texas 6 – 8 Tampa Bay.
Tags: