Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton praises Nelson Cruz for a good stride in playoffs
Nelson Cruz became the leading hitter in the Championship League Series to smash five homers. He topped the Home Runs’ list on Thursday, October 13, when he smashed a two-run homer against Justin Verlander in the eighth inning of Game 5 in the American League Championship Series. The outfielder could not do more to lead the Texas Rangers to a win over the Detroit Tigers at the Comerica Park in Detroit but he did make a lot of people proud, as his team lost 7 - 5.
2010 American League Most Valuable Player Josh Hamilton was one man to talk about his fellow outfielder. The left fielder is currently nesting a left groin strain but it does not bother him, as Cruz has handled the role of the prime hitter, pretty well.
Cruz went into the Championship Series with a bad record. He was .067 in the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays and during the month of September, in the regular season, he was just .190. However, fast forwarding to the current tournament, Cruz is .333 and for the 2011 postseason, he is .257. That has been something the Rangers are taking pride in.
The hard hitter has already smashed extra inning homers in two different games and with a strong hit coming off a pitcher, who was 24 – 5 for the regular season, there is a lot to expect from Cruz in the next possible two games.
"This has been unbelievable - it's fun to watch," said Josh Hamilton. "We were messing around in the clubhouse, saying that there's a regular-season Nellie and a postseason Nellie. His power comes in streaks, and when he's hot, he's hot. We all try to raise our game in the postseason. Some guys can do it, some guys can't.
"Nelson is one of those guys who can do it come crunch time and in key situations. It's almost like he can calm himself down and do a better job than he normally does."
Cruz is leading the Championship Series with five homers and he is also tied with Boston Red Sox designated hitter, David Ortiz, for 11 RBIs.
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