The Rangers came from behind with a five-run fourth, then withstood a furious Tampa Bay rally to even their ALDS at one game apiece.
Rangers vs. Rays: Game 2 Highlights From The Live-Blog
Just like Friday night, the Baseball Nation staff live-blogged the game. If you missed it, here’s a few of the highlights.
The Rays escaped unharmed, and after a scoreless first, Tampa Bay headed back to the dish and took advantage of Holland’s shaky control. With one on and two out, Matt Joyce tagged Holland, giving his Rays a 3-0 lead.
Read Article >Rangers vs. Rays: Mitch Moreland Homers For Insurance Run
The Rangers built a 7-6 lead over the Rays without any home runs, which seemed somewhat odd since they finished second in the American League this season with 210 round-trippers, relying all season on big (and surprising) boppers like Ian Kinsler and Mike Napoli.
Moreland’s home run tonight didn’t travel as far, but it meant a lot more. Gomes did eventually escape the eighth with no more damage, but the Rangers’ two-run lead looks a lot better than a one-run lead as the Rangers head into the ninth inning, looking to draw even in this best-of-five series.
Read Article >How Smart Is Ron Washington?
I’m not smart enough to know whether Ron Washington is admirably flexible or painfully indecisive.
Washington’s reasoning, we were told, was that he would be playing Hamilton in center field in most of the games, and he didn’t want him shifting back and forth. So he might as well play Hamilton in center field in all the games.
Read Article >Rangers vs. Rays: Evan Longoria Strikes Again, Rays Draw Close
Try and figure this game.
That was it for Uehara, who turned a four-run lead into a one-run lead in the space of about three minutes.
Read Article >Rangers vs. Rays: Shields Knocked Out, Rangers Piling On
Cruz’s single came on Shields’ 100th pitch, at which point Joe Maddon came out and removed Shields in favor of hard-throwing lefty Jake McGee.
Which brought Maddon from the dugout again, and Juan Cruz into relieve McGee.
Read Article >Rangers vs. Rays: Ogando Relieves Holland In 6th
You know, like what happened in Game 2 tonight?
Read Article >Rangers Roar Back Against Shields
After Moreland’s ground out, Shields put his head down and walked towards the dugout. The only problem? It was the second out, and a run scored on the play to make it 5-3 Rangers. Whooooops. It’s possible that Shields was a little rattled.
Read Article >Rangers vs. Rays: Matt Joyce Victimizes Derek Holland
Rays 3, Rangers 0
Read Article >Ben Zobrist Spins Dross Into Gold At Second Base
Rangers vs. Rays: Rays Take 1-0 Lead, Leave 3 Runners On
The first inning of Game 2 almost went just as badly for the Rangers.
Well, that’s great. Except you’ve still put a guy on base who might eventually score.
Read Article >Derek Holland Matched James Shields In Shutouts
Of course, they got there in different ways. Shields pitched 11 complete games, and four of them were shutouts; Holland pitched four complete games, and all of them were shutouts. And Shields’ 2.82 ERA obviously has it all over Holland’s 3.95 mark.
Still, the point is that Holland does have excellent stuff and is capable of pitching brilliantly on a given night.
Read Article >Rangers vs. Rays: Rangers’ Lineup Features Two Changes
Well, that’s not something you see every day: middle infielders at the top of the order, left fielder and first baseman at the bottom.
Read Article >Tampa Bay Rays Lineup For Game Two
Here’s the lineup they’ll use for the second game of the ALDS:
Joyce was one of the Rays’ hottest hitters in September, and he’s hitting ninth. At this point, I think it’s exceptionally likely that Joe Maddon is just screwing with us.
Read Article >Rays Vs. Rangers, ALDS Game 2 Preview: Time, TV Schedule, Starting Pitchers And More
For a Beyond the Boxscore perspective of the game, be sure to check out Bill Petti’s preview of the series. Check out our Tampa Bay Rays blog DRaysBay and Texas Rangers blog Lone Star Ball for more Game 2 analysis.
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