Rangers’ road to the World Series: ALCS Day 6 – thwarting the Yankees (Part 1)
The New York Yankees were in dire straits, and the realistic ambition of making it to the World Series was even more in jeopardy after the team lost their home game against the Texas Rangers on day 4. The fact of the matter
was that the side was down 1 – 3 in the series and the way to progress in the campaign was to win the remaining end of the fixtures. The task was almost hard but the probability of going through would grow as the victories would come. 20th October
saw the ball club rise up and transgress upon a fair scale to down the visiting West champions by a 7 – 2 score line. The balance between the two sides tilted a bit and the Yanks cut the difference to 2 game victories.
The Rangers needed a game win and for them the accomplishment was paramount. The side had done what no previous club roster had done before. They had won a series in the playoffs. The West division champions were making history
as they were going toe to toe against the Yanks. The objective was clear and the goal was set. Ron Washington had done a lot for his team and his managerial expertise was getting the club to new heights. The morale was up and the players were linking well
on the field.
Though the Texans lost their 5th encounter against the Yankees, they were far from fazed by the objective that presented itself to them and the management. The squad was targeting the World Series
and there was very little Joe Girardi’s men could do to curtail the batting prowess of the front hitters who dominated the stage with their brilliant performance. Players like Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, Michael Young, David Murphy, Ian Kinsler and returning,
Nelson Cruz were on the squad and if there was a roster that was as strong as the Yankees’, then the West division champs were highlighting the list.
After the game on Day 5, manager Ron Washington made some post match comments that highlighted the Yankees’ push in the series: “It's not disappointing. It's a seven-game series. Those guys over there are champs. We didn't
expect them to lay down, and they came out today and they were very aggressive.”
Third baseman, Michael Young was present at the post game interview and he hinted at the feeling prevailing in the Texas ball room: "There's no frustration or feeling like we didn't accomplish what we wanted to do. We'll
just go home and try to finish it off." The important thing to note was that the Yankees were no longer going to face the Rangers in the Yankees stadium. The side was going to have to win the American League Championship by beating the hosts at the Rangers
Ballpark in the next two consecutive match fixtures.
Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher, Marcus Thames, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson were all the top players in the squad but apart from the hitting department, there was no real strength in the pitching department.
The fact that the side had Andy Pettitte slatted to return in the 7th game, was reason enough to suggest a less powerful pitcher was on the cards for manager Joe Girardi. Phil Hughes was starting and the player wasn’t the right one
to face Colby Lewis of the Rangers.
The Rangers were great with the bat but their pitching was almost as good. Prior to the match, the ball throwing squad was in a better form than the Yankees’ top players. Allan James Burnett was absent and the rest of the
pitching department was encumbered to perform while there was no other good start pitcher on the roster. Even Carsten Charles Sabathia, who won the 5thcontest, was put in the bullpen for rendering throwing services.
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