Resilient Rangers rebound to even ALCS

Added on Oct 17, 2010 by Ted Sillanpaa in

MLB

The Rangers’ rebounded from a horrendous loss in Game 1 Friday to drop the Yankees, 7-2, in Game 2 on Saturday in Texas.

It was the first postseason victory at home in the Rangers franchise’s 50 seasons.

The Rangers bullpen blew a 5-0 lead in the eighth inning on Friday in a loss that knocked them into the ropes in the ALCS.

Elvis Andrus got the Rangers going Saturday as they leaped to another quick lead. Colby Lewis well into the sixth inning and five relief pitchers held the lead and tied the series 1-1.

Game 3 is Monday in New York when Rangers’ ace Cliff Lee faces Yankees’ veteran Andy Pettite. Lee has won his last four starts in New York, including a complete game for Philadelphia in last year’s World Series. He is unbeaten in postseason play.

“That’s what they have been doing for us all year. That’s how we got to this point,” manager Ron Washington said after the bullpen rebounded to save a win just over 12 hours after Friday’s loss. “Last night, we didn’t get it done. We didn’t make any excuses about it. We took the whipping, we took a shower. … I was going to give the ball back to those guys if it presented itself. It presented itself, they did a great job. I expected that.”

New York got only one hit in 3 1/3 innings against the Texas bullpen on Saturday.
Texas has been in control except for that eighth inning in Game 1, when the defending World Series champion Yankees had a five-run outburst against five pitchers for a 6-5 victory.

The Rangers again built an early 5-0 lead in Game 2 — and stayed ahead to snap a 10-game postseason losing streak against New York.