Texas Rangers’ Matt Harrison eyes a good outing against Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 – MLB Playoffs
The Texas Rangers went 2-1 up in the American League Division Series as they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in Game 3 on Monday, October 3 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
Rangers are now looking to end their campaign on a high note with a victory over the opposition in Game 4. Matt Harrison will be taking the mound again in this post-season and he will be going in as a starter.
Harrison has been phenomenal for the Rangers this season and he will be hitting the mound in a bid to walk off with his first post-season victory. The player has started 30 games for the Texans in the regular season and he has a record of 14 wins and 9 losses.
His earned run average was 3.39 and his strike-outs for the season were 126.
The player was involved in Game 1 proceedings against the Rays on Friday as he went down in the 9-0 loss. He allowed a hit and a walk to concede a run and managed just two outs. Nevertheless, the player thinks the experience was a blast of fresh air.
"I think it definitely helped," Harrison said. "It was better for me to do that than just throw on the side. I actually get into the postseason game and get the butterflies out of the way."
Harrison was not part of the line-up last year as he spent his time home, watching the playoffs. However the player struck back in the off-season period with good pitching to get the call in the regular season. The player started reading books that helped
him cope with the problems in pitching. ‘The Mental ABC’s of Pitching’ and ‘The Tao of Sports’ have helped the star a great deal over the last year.
"Being sent to the bullpen and not making the playoff roster, it really made me -- I guess I had to find out a way to stay up here and be successful," Harrison said.
With Jeremy Hellickson in contention, Harrison has a lot to do in Game 4 to ensure the Rangers move to the American League Championship. Manager Ron Washington believes he can do the necessary job without much trouble.
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