We’ve already addressed the awesomeness that is Cliff Lee for the Rangers. He pitched Game 1 and Game 5 of the ALDS and beat the Rays both times, allowing only two runs over 16 innings. What also should be addressed is that Ian Kinsler hit three home runs in the series, including a big two-run bomb off Rafael Soriano in the 9th to give Lee a much bigger margin for error. Kinsler went 8-for-18 with five runs scored and six RBIs in the five-game series. He hit three long balls and would have had a strong case for ALDS MVP if they gave out such an award.
What also must be added is the way the Rangers beat the Rays in Game 5. As LBS contributor Alan Hull and I discussed, baserunning was a deciding factor in the game. Shortstop Elvis Andrus scored the first run of the game going from second to home on a simple ground ball to first, all because Carlos Pena and David Price took their sweet time on the putout. Andrus should have been held at third, and he wouldn’t have scored after Vladimir Guerrero flied out to end the inning. That’s one run given away by the Rays, but they weren’t done, and credit must be given to Andrus for the aggressive running.
In the top of the 4th, Nelson Cruz almost made the dreaded last out of the inning at third. Instead, catcher Kelly Shoppach’s throw trying to catch Cruz stealing sailed into left field, allowing Nelson to score. Ian Kinsler singled after that so Cruz may have scored anyway, but at least the Rays would have had a shot at stopping the run. By putting pressure on the defense, Cruz created that run — the second by Texas thanks to baserunning.
Their last run courtesy of aggressiveness on the basepaths came in the 6th. With one out and men on first and second, Kinsler grounded one to Carlos Pena who made the turn to second. The throw came back to David Price for the double play and Price checked with the umpire to see if they got the call. While Price was checking, Vladimir Guerrero headed home after rounding third and slid in for another run giving the team a 3-1 lead. Price was picked on for looking at the umpire, but I don’t blame him — if they got the out at first, the inning would have been over.
Kinsler eventually took care of the small margin of separation with his big two-run home run, but until that point Texas was leading 3-1 and all their runs came because of alert baserunning. The Rangers may have a strong offense with lots of powerful bats, but they small-balled their way to victory in Game 5.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steve Nesius
