Rangers ponder winning chance, Yankees bloom in 8th to win (Pt. 4)
The Texas Rangers never won the playoffs before 2010 and the fact that their previous bids for the World Series title was cut short by the New York Yankees made things more complicated when the two sides met for the championship
on Friday. The West title holders were already at the peak of their game, haven beaten the Tampa Bay Rays. It was only a matter of time that they’d find their old rivals on their home ground for the American League Championship. Major League Baseball is nearing
a season close but the good days are here to muse over.
The New York ball club are looking for their 29th World Series title and with the championship under way; the task looks difficult given the Rangers determination and teamwork galore. The Yankees had an easy time beating
the Minnesota Twins but the Texans are a different ball game altogether. The West Champions had their share of a tough challenge when the Tampa Bay Rays came knocking on their doorstep. Fortunately, it was a Cliff Lee display that put the East division champions
down in the game. Nevertheless, the two were now on the front of a competition that engrossed their talents on the line.
The game started in favour of the Texans and many wouldn’t believe that as the side has never won a post season match at home. They went ahead when Josh Hamilton produced a furious homer to put the side up 3 runs ahead in the bottom
1st inning. The Rangers extended their lead further through Michael Young who got Matt Treanor and Elvis Andrus to the dugout with two runs, totalling the effort to 5 runs.
However the Yankees struck back in the top 7th with a home run smashed by Robinson Cano. C. J. Wilson was pitching for the Texans and he was in good form. The young man was up to the task but the home run concession
depicted a tired wonder thrower. The West ball club was not going to go ahead in the bottom 7th and that brought on the Yanks who were looking for some path to redemption on the pitch.
Wilson continued pitching in the top 8th and Brett Gardner came on to the diamond to face the Rangers’ ball thrower. Gardner didn’t take any chances with an ill fated shot and ran to the first with an infield single.
The hitter later scored eventually, when new comer, Derek Jeter came in and pushed a double through the left side to get himself on the second base. With two runs on the board and a runner on the 2nd, things looked considerably decent for the Yanks.
Wilson was taken off and on came Darren Oliver from the bullpen. Nick Swisher faced the changed and he wasn’t complaining as he made his way to the first with a walk. Mark Teixeira came in next and he left the bag happy too as
he walked up the diamond and welcomed Alex Rodriguez on to the strike zone. Darren had made matters worse for Texas and it didn’t take long for things to go really bad.
Darren O’ Day replaced Oliver but his introduction to the game was ineffective. The pitcher faced a harsh concession as A – Rod’s single to the left got Jeter and Swisher to score the 3rd and the 4th runs
for the team. Clay Rapada replaced O’ Day and he faced a hard time on the mound as Robinson Cano’s single to the centre got Teixeira through for the equalizer run and got A – Rod to the third with a throw error by centre fielder, Josh Hamilton.
Derek Holland was the last bullpen member to come out to face the Yankees in the strike zone. But, his inclusion meant very little as Marcus Thames punched a RBI (Run Batted In) as Rodriguez scored the 6th run for the
team, sending the opponents to a defeat.
The Yankees won the game 6 – 5 and that was all the damage Texans could do to alter their fates on Friday night.
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