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Moriarty9 · 10-02-2009, 11:18 AM

Rangers take ALDS Game 1
Devil Rays leave tying run on third base
September 30, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Texas Rangers got to Danny Haren early and were able to hold off the Tampa Bay Devil Rays long enough to come away with an 8-7 victory in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

Texas scored two runs in the first inning, single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, and added on two more runs in the seventh inning, handing Haren his first career loss in the playoffs.

Haren surrendered six runs, five earned, on 11 hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 11.

"I didn't get the job done tonight," said Haren. "Plain and simple. I let these guys down by not getting the outs I should have gotten."

Ben Sheets allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits and two walks in six innings for Texas. He earned the win.

Trailing by two runs heading into the last of the ninth, the Devil Rays tried to rally and come away with a walk-off victory. With Rangers closer Adam Russell on the mound, Matt Holliday led off the inning by striking out. Josh Hamilton brought Tampa Bay within one run by hitting a solo home run to right field, making it 8-7 Texas.

After fouling off four 3-2 pitches, Russell Martin singled through the left side of the infield, putting the tying run on base. Alexis Gomez followed with a single, and Martin went from first to third, putting the tying run on third base with one out, and the winning run on first base.

Jeff Francoeur hit a soft line drive to right field, but not deep enough to allow Martin to try to score from third base. Brendan Harris made the final out of the game, grounding out to second base.

Jim Thome and Brian Hunter each hit home runs for Texas in the victory. Thome hit a solo homer off Haren in the fifth inning while Hunter hit a two-run shot off left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes in the seventh inning.

Former Devil Rays Jayson Werth (3 hits) and Garret Anderson (2 hits) were among the three Rangers players to record multiple hits in the game; Ty Wigginton had two hits in the eighth spot in the lineup. Every starter in the batting order had at least one hit for the Rangers.

Ryan Howard went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored for Tampa Bay, while Francoeur had two hits and two RBI, and Harris had two doubles and a RBI. Holliday, Martin and Gomez had two hits each.

Brandon Webb will take the mound for Texas in Game 2 tomorrow night at Tropicana Field, while Pedro Martinez will look to even the series for Tampa Bay.

10-02-2009, 11:18 AM	#581 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Rangers take ALDS Game 1 Devil Rays leave tying run on third base September 30, 2009 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Texas Rangers got to Danny Haren early and were able to hold off the Tampa Bay Devil Rays long enough to come away with an 8-7 victory in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Texas scored two runs in the first inning, single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, and added on two more runs in the seventh inning, handing Haren his first career loss in the playoffs. Haren surrendered six runs, five earned, on 11 hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 11. "I didn't get the job done tonight," said Haren. "Plain and simple. I let these guys down by not getting the outs I should have gotten." Ben Sheets allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits and two walks in six innings for Texas. He earned the win. Trailing by two runs heading into the last of the ninth, the Devil Rays tried to rally and come away with a walk-off victory. With Rangers closer Adam Russell on the mound, Matt Holliday led off the inning by striking out. Josh Hamilton brought Tampa Bay within one run by hitting a solo home run to right field, making it 8-7 Texas. After fouling off four 3-2 pitches, Russell Martin singled through the left side of the infield, putting the tying run on base. Alexis Gomez followed with a single, and Martin went from first to third, putting the tying run on third base with one out, and the winning run on first base. Jeff Francoeur hit a soft line drive to right field, but not deep enough to allow Martin to try to score from third base. Brendan Harris made the final out of the game, grounding out to second base. Jim Thome and Brian Hunter each hit home runs for Texas in the victory. Thome hit a solo homer off Haren in the fifth inning while Hunter hit a two-run shot off left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes in the seventh inning. Former Devil Rays Jayson Werth (3 hits) and Garret Anderson (2 hits) were among the three Rangers players to record multiple hits in the game; Ty Wigginton had two hits in the eighth spot in the lineup. Every starter in the batting order had at least one hit for the Rangers. Ryan Howard went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored for Tampa Bay, while Francoeur had two hits and two RBI, and Harris had two doubles and a RBI. Holliday, Martin and Gomez had two hits each. Brandon Webb will take the mound for Texas in Game 2 tomorrow night at Tropicana Field, while Pedro Martinez will look to even the series for Tampa Bay.