When rain set in tonight - the second time - it did so in the middle of a big Tigers rally in the top of the fifth. They had cut a 3-0 deficit to a 3-2 deficit, and they had two outs and the bases loaded, with Alex Avila coming up. Avila posted an .895 OPS during the regular season.
Rangers vs. Tigers: Texas Bullpen On Fire
Well, Mike Gonzalez retired Avila after the rain let up. And he gave way to Alexi Ogando, who gave way to Darren Oliver, who gave way to Mike Adams. All the Rangers relievers have been terrific. Here's the log, beginning with Gonzalez vs. Avila in the fifth:
Out
Out
Out
Walk
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
The Rangers bullpen has faced 11 batters, and it's retired ten of them - five by strikeout. The top of the eighth featured Oliver and Adams, and they worked through Don Kelly, Avila and Jhonny Peralta with little trouble.
The Rangers haven't added to their lead, but their arms have protected it, and that 3-2 score from the fifth? It's still intact, as we head to the bottom of the eighth top of the ninth. (This game is going so fast now that the rain is gone!) Here comes Neftali Feliz, and he'll try to keep the Tigers' bats cold as the Rangers look for a 1-0 series edge.
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