Evan Longoria finished a triple short of the cycle and David Price pitched a complete game to propel the Tampa Bay Rays into the American League Wild Card game with a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday.
Rays vs. Rangers, AL Wild Card 2013 tiebreaker final score: Tampa Bay advances with 5-2 win
The Rays bore down after a late controversial call went against them. Now, Evan Longoria and crew are Cleveland-bound.
Longoria hit a two-run home run off of Rangers starter Martin Perez in the third inning to provide what ultimately was the deciding blow. The star third baseman also doubled and scored in the sixth and added an early single. He had two chances to complete the cycle, but drew a walk in the seventh and struck out in the ninth.
Price scattered seven hits and allowed a pair of runs, but did his best work late in the game after a controversial play went against the Rays.
With runners on first and second in the top of the seventh, Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin appeared to trap a blooper off the bat of Delmon Young, but the play was ruled a catch, turning what could have been another Tampa Bay run into an inning-ending out. The sold-out crowd in Arlington, Texas, was rocking, but Price shut down the Rangers' offense in the bottom half of the frame, retiring the side in order.
The following inning, Price overcame a one-out double by Ian Kinsler by inducing a pair of groundouts -- one of which was a bunt attempt by Elvis Andrus on which Price made an excellent play -- to keep the Rangers off the board. He retired the side in the ninth to finish off a complete game. Not bad for a guy who entered the game with a 5.98 ERA in eight career starts against Texas.
Tampa Bay added a run in the top of the ninth when Texas reliever Tanner Scheppers threw the ball into left field while trying to catch Sam Fuld stealing third base.
The Rays remain on the road for the AL Wild Card game against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. The winner will move on to the Division Series, where the Boston Red Sox await.
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