As I think I've pointed out six or seven times this postseason, Jaime Garcia is usually great the first time through the order. He has some serious differences between how he does in different stages of the game. In the first inning of Game 6, though, he walked Ian Kinsler on five pitches. Whether it was a case of Game 6 hitters or wonky mechanics, walking the lead-off hitter in the first inning is like showing up to a job interview with your underwear on the outside of your pants. Maybe you'll overcome it, but it's not a good sign.
World Series Game 6: Hamilton RBI Single Gives Rangers Early Lead
Elvis Andrus singled next, and that was followed by an RBI single from Josh Hamilton that was more of the perfectly placed variety than a screaming line drive.
Andrus moved from first to third because that's what he does, and the Rangers had a run in, and runners at the corners with no one out. Bad.
But Garcia then struck Michael Young out on three pitches, with a sinker right down the middle for the final pitch. Then Adrian Beltre went down on strikes as well, leaving everything up to Nelson Cruz, who grounded sharply to third base. Had Young hit into a double play, Garcia would have been happy to get out of the inning down 2-0. As is, the sinkerballer became a strikeout maven at just the right time.
It’s an early lead for the Rangers, but they’re probably just a little disappointed with how the rest of the inning turned out.
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