Big Game James was on the mound, and got a three run lead staked to him. It seemed over for the Rangers, but they took advantage of Shields’ wildness in the fourth inning and pulled out an 8-6 win tonight to even their ALDS series at a game apiece.
Tampa Bay gained the early advantage, forcing Derek Holland to work early on and throw 52 pitches over the first two innings. They got a run in the first when Holland walked Kelly Shoppach with the bases loaded. The Rays struck again in the fourth, when Matt Joyce cranked a long homer to right center on a hanging fastball.
The Rangers would go off in the fourth inning, as Shields’ command faltered. He hit two batters in the inning, including Adrian Beltre with the bases loaded to force in a run. Shields also threw a wild pitch on a swinging third strike to David Murphy, allowing Murphy to reach and Beltre to score on the play. Of the five runs scored in the inning, only two scored on a hit – a single by Mike Napoli that brought in Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.
Texas would increase their lead to 7-3 in the sixth with a two run double by Ian Kinsler. But like we’ve seen all too often with the Rays in recent weeks, they wouldn’t die. Koji Uehara came in for the seventh inning, and walked Desmond Jennings. Then, he allowed a single to BJ Upton. Next up was Evan Longoria, who launched a three run homer to make it a 7-6 game to tighten the sphincters of everyone in the vicinity of Dallas. Tampa Bay wouldn’t score again for the rest of the evening, and the Rangers got an insurance run on a homer by Mitch Moreland in the eighth to seal the deal.
Holland picked up the win despite an underwhelming start. He only went five innings, and allowed three runs (one earned), while allowing six hits and two walks. He struck out just two hitters as well. Jamies Shields almost had a more impressive start on paper, if it weren’t for the wildness. In his five innings of work, he allowed six runs, walked none, and struck out six. He allowed eight singles, and no extra base hits. But the two batters he hit and the two wild pitches he threw hurt him at the end of the day. It could have been a much different came if the Rays were able to get through the sixth unscathed, but Juan Cruz allowed the double to Kinsler that plated two more runs that were charged to Shields.
Offensively, Upton had a great game for the Rays, reaching base four times in five plate appearances. Longoria, hitting behind Upton, added a walk to his homer. Leadoff hitter Jennings also reached twice. The rest of Tampa Bay’s order reached base just five times. As for Texas, Kinsler, Young and Napoli all had two hit games, and Kinsler, Napoli and Moreland all drove in two runs.
This series is even at one, and the teams will get a day off tomorrow befor returning on Monday. Game three’s pitching matchup will feature Colby Lewis taking on David Price. First pitch is scheduled for 5:07 PM at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg.
