Lee Leads Rangers to First Series Win

Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers win the ALDS and franchise first series win, against the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1. This was also the first season in which the road team won every game.

Coming into the game the series was tied at two games apiece and with the being the deciding game both teams had their ace on the mound; Cliff Lee for the Rangers and David Price for the Rays. Coming into the game Lee had a 3.98 ERA since joining the Rangers and Price had a 2.72 on the season.

Lee came out on top as he threw a complete game. He also struck out 11 men and only gave up six-hits and only allowed one run not allowing a walk. Lee threw 120 pitches 89 of which was strikes and he threw 73% of his first pitches as stirkes. This is his fourth post season game where he struck out at least 10 batters and he also remains undefeated in the post season. When ask his thoughts about the game Lee said:

“It was a lot of fun, I know that much,” Lee said. “We had our back against the wall today and we came out and performed.”

That is exactly what they did the Rangers struck early and off often as they scored one-run in the first, one in the fourth, one in the sixth and two in the ninth. The two runs in the ninth were score off second basemen Ian Kinsler to insure that the Rangers came out on top.

As for the Rays they only scored one run when Ben Zobrist singled into center field to allow Sean Rodriguez to go home. Pitching for the Rays was also a difficulty as they went through four different pitchers but starting pitcher Price went six innings while he struck out six batters and gave up three runs. While closer Rafael Soriano gave up three hits and two runs in the ninth inning alone but the lose goes to Price.

Most teams after winning a series especially the first one in the teams franchise want to celebrate with their teammates with champagne and beer but not the Rangers. Out of respect they wanted to celebrate this as a team with outfielder Josh Hamilton, who sit out the celebration when the team clinched the division because he is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. So out of respect the team celebrated with ginger ale instead of alcohol. Pitcher C.J. Wilson was also able to celebrate with the team as he does not drink as well. The idea was came up with by the equipment manger.

“It was a great idea,” third basemen Micheal Young said. “Josh and C.J. are a big part of our ballclub, and we wanted them to be able to celebrate with us.”
Hamilton was excited to take part in the celebration and said;

“This stuff burns your eyes, too,” Hamilton said. “But for them to adapt the celebration to this, it really says a lot about our organization.”

The team would later celebrate in normal fashion after those two guys left but they wanted to show the respect to wait.

With the Rangers winning this game they will move on to face the New York Yankees on Friday at 8:00 PM at home in the ALCS. The starting pitchers for this game will be C.C. Sabaitha for the Yankees and Wilson will take the mound for the Rangers.