OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 08-03-2009, 02:58 PM

ALDS Game 1: Rangers hold off Rays
Five-run sixth inning propels Texas to one-run victory
October 4, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Texas Rangers won Game 1 of the American League Division Series by just one run thanks to a five-run sixth inning off Tampa Bay Devil Rays rookie John Lackey.

Lackey, a Texas native making his first post-season start, had been pitching pretty well up until the sixth inning, which he began with a 3-2 lead.

Maicer Izturis opened the inning with an eight-pitch at bat that ended with a soft groundball through the left side of the infield for a leadoff single. Jim Thome doubled and Dan Uggla followed with a two-run double to give the Rangers a one-run lead. Lackey fought back, inducing a shallow flyball out to left field and a pop up to third base when Tim Raines Jr. hit a 2-0 triple to right-center field. Larry Bigbie followed with a RBI double as the bullpen began warming quickly. Aaron Hill hit a RBI single before Lackey was able to strike out Michael Barrett to end the inning.

"The wheels came off quick there for John," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We called down to the bullpen to get some guys loose but then he came back with the two easy outs and we had them sit down for now with the idea they'd start warming again once we came to hit. Unfortunately, Texas came right back after us after those two outs."

Jimmy Rollins hit a solo home run off J.P. Howell to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, and knocked in another run with a RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rollins scored on a Matt Holliday sacrifice fly in the eighth, cutting the Texas lead down to just one run.

Rangers closer David Weathers took the mound in the bottom of the ninth, looking to close the door on Tampa Bay with just a one-run lead. J.J. Hardy led off the inning as a pinch hitter for Jayson Werth, but quickly grounded out to shortstop. Jonny Gomes followed with a six-pitch walk, and scampered to third base on an Adam Kennedy double to centerfield. The tying run was 90 feet away with the winning run in scoring position and just one out for the defending champions, but Weathers was able to get Wes Helms to pop up to first base and Carl Crawford to fly out to left field to end the game.

"It was a well-played game by both sides," said O'Neal. "They had that one inning where they had some real good swings and that was the difference."

Lackey was charged with the loss after giving up seven runs on 10 hits and one walk, striking out six in six innings. Erik Bedard and Scott Linebrink combined for three scoreless innings of relief with Linebrink striking out three in 1 2/3 no-hit innings of work.

Howell gets the win, charged with six runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out five in seven innings. Ryan Bukvich threw a scoreless inning of relief while Weathers picked up the save.

Rollins was the game's best hitter, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. He was one of five Devil Rays to get a hit in the game. Hitters three through six for Tampa Bay went a combined 0-for-14 in the game.

Texas will send Noah Lowry (5-9, 6.61 ERA) to the mound tomorrow for Game 2 of the best-of-five series. The Devil Rays hope to even the series with a win from Cy Young winner John Stephens, 13-8 with a 3.88 ERA this season.

Lowry has no post-season experience while Stephens is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 19 1/3 innings of playoff pitching. Lowry is 0-2 in three starts against Tampa Bay this season while the Rangers have not seen Stephens in 2005.

08-03-2009, 02:58 PM	#472 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	ALDS Game 1: Rangers hold off Rays Five-run sixth inning propels Texas to one-run victory October 4, 2005 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Texas Rangers won Game 1 of the American League Division Series by just one run thanks to a five-run sixth inning off Tampa Bay Devil Rays rookie John Lackey. Lackey, a Texas native making his first post-season start, had been pitching pretty well up until the sixth inning, which he began with a 3-2 lead. Maicer Izturis opened the inning with an eight-pitch at bat that ended with a soft groundball through the left side of the infield for a leadoff single. Jim Thome doubled and Dan Uggla followed with a two-run double to give the Rangers a one-run lead. Lackey fought back, inducing a shallow flyball out to left field and a pop up to third base when Tim Raines Jr. hit a 2-0 triple to right-center field. Larry Bigbie followed with a RBI double as the bullpen began warming quickly. Aaron Hill hit a RBI single before Lackey was able to strike out Michael Barrett to end the inning. "The wheels came off quick there for John," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We called down to the bullpen to get some guys loose but then he came back with the two easy outs and we had them sit down for now with the idea they'd start warming again once we came to hit. Unfortunately, Texas came right back after us after those two outs." Jimmy Rollins hit a solo home run off J.P. Howell to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, and knocked in another run with a RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rollins scored on a Matt Holliday sacrifice fly in the eighth, cutting the Texas lead down to just one run. Rangers closer David Weathers took the mound in the bottom of the ninth, looking to close the door on Tampa Bay with just a one-run lead. J.J. Hardy led off the inning as a pinch hitter for Jayson Werth, but quickly grounded out to shortstop. Jonny Gomes followed with a six-pitch walk, and scampered to third base on an Adam Kennedy double to centerfield. The tying run was 90 feet away with the winning run in scoring position and just one out for the defending champions, but Weathers was able to get Wes Helms to pop up to first base and Carl Crawford to fly out to left field to end the game. "It was a well-played game by both sides," said O'Neal. "They had that one inning where they had some real good swings and that was the difference." Lackey was charged with the loss after giving up seven runs on 10 hits and one walk, striking out six in six innings. Erik Bedard and Scott Linebrink combined for three scoreless innings of relief with Linebrink striking out three in 1 2/3 no-hit innings of work. Howell gets the win, charged with six runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out five in seven innings. Ryan Bukvich threw a scoreless inning of relief while Weathers picked up the save. Rollins was the game's best hitter, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. He was one of five Devil Rays to get a hit in the game. Hitters three through six for Tampa Bay went a combined 0-for-14 in the game. Texas will send Noah Lowry (5-9, 6.61 ERA) to the mound tomorrow for Game 2 of the best-of-five series. The Devil Rays hope to even the series with a win from Cy Young winner John Stephens, 13-8 with a 3.88 ERA this season. Lowry has no post-season experience while Stephens is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 19 1/3 innings of playoff pitching. Lowry is 0-2 in three starts against Tampa Bay this season while the Rangers have not seen Stephens in 2005.