Blasé Bombers Beaten

Here’s a little irony: Former Texas slugger, Alex Rodriguez, struck out to end game six of the ALCS, sending the Rangers to their first ever World Series. Rodriguez was fanned by Neftali Feliz to seal the Rangers’ 6-1 victory over the defending champion New York Yankees. Texas begins their quest for a franchise-first title on Wednesday. They face the winner of the Philadelphia-San Francisco series. For New York and All-Star Rodriguez, it’s time to head home without back-to-back championships.
Yankees’ hurler, Phil Hughes, was charged with four runs in four 2/3 innings to take the loss. The beating started early for New York. Texas scored in the bottom of the first after Elvis Andrus led off with a double. ALCS MVP, Josh Hamilton, lined a single to left to advance the runner to third. Andrus came around to score on Vlad Guerrero’s infield groundout to put the Rangers up in the early going. Colby Lewis stunned New York’s offense, keeping the Yankees scoreless through four frames. Lewis spun a perfect second and third frame, and limited the defending champions to just three hits in eight innings. His only blemish was a fifth inning wild pitch that resulted in Rodriguez’s tally.
Hughes settled down to work around a couple base runners to keep it a one run game. He was blasted in the fifth. Mitch Moreland’s infield single was followed by a pair of groundouts. Hughes elected to issue an intentional pass to Hamilton with Moreland pacing the third base line, hungry to score. Guerrero stepped to the plate with two on and two outs, and promptly drove Hughes’ curveball to deep center. The outfielder’s two-run double signaled the end to Hughes’ evening. Dave Robertson replaced the rocked starter but didn’t offer any solace for the Yankees. Robertson allowed an inside fastball to Nelson Cruz to clear the centerfield wall. The Rangers were up 5-1 just like that.
Texas would add to their four run lead in the seventh, while the Yankees inept swings continued to plague the team. New York never threatened the rest of the game and were victims to nine strikeouts. Lance Berkman’s two out triple in the seventh was a mere waste after the first baseman was stranded in scoring position. Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera were summoned from the bullpen down the stretch, but it was New York’s starting pitching and offense that failed them this series. Rodriguez froze on a slider from Cruz to end any hope of a game seven for the Yankees. Texas outscored the Bombers 21-6 during the six games they played. Now the World Series is coming to Texas.

Parting Points: I’m happy for Nolan Ryan. Great pitcher, and deserving of seeing his team in the Fall Classic. Too bad it had to be at the Yankees’ expense. I’m also happy for ten-year Ranger, Michael Young. He seems like a great guy on and off the field.

In the words of Jakob Dylan- “Nothing is forever”