SB Nation Dallas - Rangers Sweep Mariners, Prepare For Regular Season's Final Serieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2011-09-27T01:12:22-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22099672011-09-27T01:12:22-05:002011-09-27T01:12:22-05:00Rangers 4, Angels 3 - Player Of The Game
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<p></p>↵<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">↵<div class="pane sports_data_widget record clearfix">↵<div class="pane-body clearfix">↵<div class="col sdw-rec-score">↵<p><span> 94 - 66 </span></p>↵</div>↵<div class="col sdw-rec-details">↵<p class="gamesback"><label>Games Back:</label> 0</p>↵<p class="streak"><label>Streak:</label> Won 4</p>↵<p class="gamesleft"><label>Games Left:</label> 2</p>↵</div>↵</div>↵</div>↵<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">↵↵<p><br id="1317103840934"> <br></p>↵
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/9/27/2452171/rangers-4-angels-3-player-of-the-gameRobbie Griffin2011-09-24T21:08:13-05:002011-09-24T21:08:13-05:00We Have A New Magic Number
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<h3><b>4</b></h3>↵<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> somehow managed a comfortable victory while starting a JV squad against <span>Felix Hernandez</span>. In the mean time, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a> with <span>Justin Verlander</span> on the mound.</p>↵<p>Two completely improbable results, the Rangers are now a game in front of the Tigers with four to play. Detroit has the tie-breaker, but should Texas at least keep pace with them against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>, they will host the Wild Card winner on the first day of the playoffs (or Tigers should the Angels sneak in). With that situation, the new magic number is now four.</p>↵<p>Two guaranteed home games, both to start the series off, is great for confidence and the team's wallet. More importantly, getting an extra home game should the series end up tied is, obviously, not inconsequential. The fact that the Rangers took the lead in the race with two unlikely victories, and managed to win all while resting their starters, is fantastic.</p>↵<p>Keep it up and a repeat is a little more likely.</p>↵<h3></h3>↵
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/9/24/2447412/we-have-a-new-magic-numberRobbie Griffin2011-09-24T13:26:22-05:002011-09-24T13:26:22-05:00Rangers Will Have Four Man Playoff Rotation
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/aandro/status/117661363689619456">Per Anthony Andro</a>, Ron Washington said that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> will use a four man rotation in the playoffs this year. </p>↵<blockquote>↵<p>Rangers manager Ron Washington said he will have four man playoff rotation, but only lock is <span>C.J. Wilson</span> in Game 1. </p>↵</blockquote>↵<p>Wilson is easily the no-brainer call to start Game 1 of the LDS. There's clearly no debating that whatsoever, as he's clearly been Texas' best pitcher, and one of the <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=al&qual=y&type=8&season=2011&month=0&season1=2011&ind=0" target="_blank">top five pitchers in the entire American League this year.</a></p>↵<p>The rest of the rotation, though, is up for grabs. It's expected that <span>Alexi Ogando</span> <a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/09/17/3374642/ogando-will-go-just-once-more.html" target="_blank">will be a member of Texas' bullpen in the postseason</a>. That leaves <span>Matt Harrison</span>, <span>Derek Holland</span> and <span>Colby Lewis</span> as the other three starters in Texas' playoff rotation.</p>↵<p>The order that they'll pitch in, though, is unknown. Holland has been extremely inconsistent this year, and Lewis has been prone to giving up the longball. Harrison doesn't exactly inspire confidence, but he's been effective for Texas, and has respectable second half numbers despite a disastrous August. </p>↵
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/9/24/2446694/rangers-will-have-four-man-playoff-rotationJP Starkey2011-09-24T00:18:14-05:002011-09-24T00:18:14-05:00Rangers Clinch AL West, Defeat Mariners 5-3
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<p>For the second consecutive year, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> are going to be playing in the postseason. The Rangers clinched the AL West on Friday night with a 5-3 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>, coupled with Los Angeles' 3-1 loss to the Oakland A's.</p>
<p>Texas jumped out to a 5-0 lead -- thanks to home runs. <span>Adrian Beltre</span> belted a two run homer in the second, followed by <span>Josh Hamilton</span>'s 452 ft. solo homer in the third to put Texas up 3-0. <span>Craig Gentry</span> added an inside-the-park homer, scoring Nelson Cruz in the process, to put Texas up 5-0.</p>
<p><span>Matt Harrison</span>, credited with the win, gave up three runs in six innings, with all three runs being scored in the sixth inning. Harrison allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out just one Mariner. </p>
<p>Texas' bullpen preserved the lead, with Jon Daniels' acquisitions at the deadline both coming in relief in Texas' clincher. <span>Darren Oliver</span> notched the first two outs of the seventh, before <span>Koji Uehara</span> came in for the final out of the inning. <span>Mike Adams</span> pitched the eighth, giving up just one hit. <span>Neftali Feliz</span> recorded his 30th save of the season, walking one and striking out one in the ninth.</p>
<p>The Rangers, though, couldn't celebrate their AL West title just yet. The division wasn't clinched until the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> lost to the A's. <span>Jered Weaver</span>, Los Angeles' ace, took the hard-luck loss, pitching 8 and 1/3 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) while striking out eight. Mike Scioscia's team simply couldn't muster up any offense in support of Weaver, and consequently, were eliminated from AL West contention. </p>
<p>Who the Rangers play in the ALDS is still a mystery, as the Wild Card picture remains murky, though, with losses by Tampa Bay and Los Angeles on Friday, it's looking increasingly likely that the wild card will be Boston. If so, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> would host either the Rangers or the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> -- whoever ends up as the No. 3 seed. </p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/9/24/2445928/rangers-clinch-al-west-defeat-mariners-5-3JP Starkey2011-09-23T13:37:44-05:002011-09-23T13:37:44-05:00Rangers Crowned AL West Champions Again, Defeat Mariners 5-3
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<p>The Rangers can clinch the American League West on Friday with a win coupled with an Angels loss.</p> <p>With a five game lead and only six games to play, the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a> are on the verge of clinching the AL West for a second consecutive season. Texas' magic number sits at two coming into Friday's series opening contest against the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Mariners</a>. </p>
<p>Texas can clinch the AL West on Friday night with a win against the Mariners coupled with an <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</a> loss. Los Angeles is opening a three-game series against the Oakland A's, with ace <span>Jered Weaver</span> on the mound against an inept Oakland offense.</p>
<p><span>Matt Harrison</span> gets the start for the Rangers in what could be Texas' last game before they're crowned AL West champions. On the whole, Harrison has pitched well for the Rangers, pitching to the tune of a 1.30 WHIP, .261 BAA and 3.42 ERA. Harrison has struck out 121 batters on the season in 173.2 innings of work. Harrison's last start came against the Mariners, a game in which he pitched 6 and 2/3 innings, allowing six hits while walking two and striking out nine en route to his 13th win of the season.</p>
<p>Seattle will counter Harrison with southpaw <span>Anthony Vasquez</span>. Vasquez, who is from San Antonio, has been awful in his brief time in Seattle, giving up 28 runs (22 earned) 35 hits while walking eight in 24 innings. Those numbers translate into a .330 BAA, 1.79 WHIP and 8.25 ERA. </p>
<p>First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/9/23/2444891/rangers-host-mariners-look-to-clinch-al-westJP Starkey