The Texas Rangers are one win away from their second consecutive World Series appearance.
Nelson Cruz, whose grand slam in the 11th inning won Game 2 for his Texas Rangers, was the star of Game 4 once again Wednesday night in his team's 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers to give them a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
With the ballgame all tied up in the eighth inning, Cruz threw Miguel Cabrera out at the plate with a pretty throw to his partner in crime Mike Napoli, who was luckily not absolutely clobbered by the husky Cabrera. As if that wasn't badass enough, the outfielder followed up the leather-flashing, arm cannon action with a three-run shot (his fourth homer of the ALCS) in the 11th off Jose Valverde, who just so happened to be right in the middle of imploding, immediately after Napoli blooped a go-ahead single.
Cruz is all about making history, you guys. Sunday, he became the first player in big league history to hit a walkoff grand slam in the postseason, while Wednesday he became the first ever to hit a pair of extra-inning homers in the same playoff series. Bad. Ass... especially considering he went just 1-for-15 in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the postseason. Boomstick.
Tigers starter Rick Porcello gave his team the best he had, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing just three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks, but it wasn't quite enough.
The only thing that stands in the way of another trip the the Show for Texas is the best pitcher in the American League and this year's eventual Cy Young winner, Justin Verlander. Game 5 is all set for Thursday in Detroit at 4:19pm ET on FOX. C.J. Wilson, just another left-handed starter for Texas, will take the hill and try to better his 0-1 record and 7.45 ERA from this postseason... he was chased after 4.2 innings of work against Detroit last Saturday, coughing up two runs on six hits with five walks. Better luck this time, C.J., we have a feeling Verlander is feeling stingy.
[Baseball Nation]
1 comment:
I hope, like Wash said post-game, that Nellie is finally getting the attention he deserves. He is a true asset to the team!
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