The Texas Rangers historical season continued on Friday night when the Rangers captured their first pennant in franchise history. Texas defeated New York 6-1 in the sixth game of the ALCS, winning the series four games to two.
Colby Lewis was spectacular in the winning effort, pitching eight innings and allowing only one run on three hits while walking three. He struck out seven en route to winning his second game of the ALCS.
Elvis Andrus set the tone in the bottom of the first, doubling to center field leading off for Texas. He scored on a Vladimir Guerrero ground out to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
New York scored the equalizer in the top of the fifth inning. Alex Rodriguez doubled to left center field and advanced to third on a fly out by Lance Berkman. He then scored on a controversial wild pitch by Lewis. Lewis threw a curveball which bounced before it reached home plate and it hit Nick Swisher in the shin. The umpire, however, did not rule it a hit batsman despite the fact that Swisher doubled over and the ball changed direction, allowing it to get by Molina and score Rodriguez.
Texas responded emphatically in the bottom half of the fifth. Mitch Moreland led off the inning with a single. Andrus and Michael Young grounded out, advancing Moreland to third in the process. Yankees manager Joe Girardi elected to intentionally walk Josh Hamilton with two outs and have starter Phil Hughes face Guerrero. Guerrero doubled to deep center field, scoring both Moreland and Hamilton. Girardi immediately went to the bullpen and brought in David Robertson to face Nelson Cruz. With two strikes on him, Cruz homered to centerfield giving the Rangers a commanding 5-1 lead.
Ian Kinsler added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to give Texas a 6-1 lead.
Neftali Feliz came on in the ninth inning and struck out Alex Rodriguez to end the series.
Josh Hamilton was named ALCS MVP. Hamilton was walked intentionally three times in the game, hitting four home runs and driving in seven runs.
The Rangers will open up the World Series in either Philadelphia or San Francisco on Wednesday with Cliff Lee starting Game 1.