Texas Rangers’ CEO Nolan Ryan and manager Ron Washington talk about Game 3 – MLB Playoffs
The Texas Rangers held on in their latest American League Division Series game against the Tampa Bay Rays to walk out of the Tropicana Field ballpark with a 4-3 win, in St. Petersburg, with a 2-1 lead in the competition.
The Texans faced off against the Rays in Game 3 on October 3 with the intention of winning the bout. They achieved their target but their struggle was well matched by the opposition. Manager Ron Washington and CEO Nolan Ryan had a few words to spare on the
recent game.
"That was nerve-racking," Ryan said. "That was about as stress-filled of a game as I've ever sat through."
The Rangers went down 1-0 in the encounter early as Colby Lewis allowed just one hit in the first six innings of pitching. That hit was a home-run smash from Rays’ left-fielder Desmond Jennings in the fourth inning. The Rangers did not respond till the seventh
inning when Mike Napoli slammed a two-run homer and Josh Hamilton managed a two run RBI single.
Rangers were in the lead but with Lewis off the mound, the bull-pen was called in to restrain the Rays. They did the job but they allowed two runs to go by in the process. Darren Oliver allowed the Rays to load the bases and score with Johnny Damon in the
seventh. Then Mike Adams was hit for a home-run in the eighth by fiery Desmond Jennings.
Manager Washington acknowledged that the three innings after Lewis were truly nail biting.
"It was three of the toughest innings that we experienced all year," Washington said. "You had two ball clubs out there that never quit playing baseball."
Nolan Ryan was evaluating the Rays and he spoke greatly of maintaining caution against the challengers in the coming Game 4.
"We're not taking these guys lightly," Ryan said. "They have a lot of momentum and they play with a lot of heart."
If the Rangers pick up a win in Game 4, they will head to the American League Championship Series to retain their League Crown.
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