On the very first play of the very first Wild Card game in American League history, first baseman Michael Young made an error. Well, then. Nate McLouth was the runner, and he subsequently stole second, scoring on J.J. Hardy’s single. Rangers starter Yu Darvish got out of the inning with two strikeouts and a pop-up, with the Orioles leading 1-0.
Orioles score early, Rangers get run right back
You think that’d be enough for Joe Saunders, but no. Ian Kinsler walked to lead off the game for the Rangers, and he made it to third on an Elvis Andrus single. A bittersweet Josh Hamilton double play tied the game back up at one, but it also killed the rally. Adrian Beltre flew out to end the inning.
Worth noting: Buck Showalter had the bullpen going when there were two on and no outs in the first. Any sort of dilly-dallying and assorted incompetence, and Saunders is gone. Showalter isn’t messing around.
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