Texas' Come From Behind Bid Comes Up Short

The Texas Rangers came into game five of the ALCS, with a commanding 3-1 lead. The Tigers sent their ace pitcher Justin Verlander to the mound to try to keep the Tigers in the series. Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in the American League, if not in all of baseball. The Rangers sent their ace pitcher C.J. Wilson to the mound to try to close out the series with the Tigers. C.J. Wilson has not pitched to his capabilities this postseason. Like the previous games in the ALCS, you knew that game five was going to be just as intense. The Tigers in a must win situation and the Rangers wanting to close out the series. To win their second consecutive American League Championship and go to their second consecutive World Series.

Texas started off the scoring in the first inning, when Ian Kinsler led the game off with a double. Elvis Andrus battled at the plate against Justin Verlander, before hitting a ground ball to second baseman Ramon Santiago, to move Kinsler over to third base. Josh Hamilton battled Justin Verlander before hitting a sacrifice fly to center fielder Austin Jackson, to score Ian Kinsler. C.J. Wilson looked strong the first two innings getting all six batters he faced. The start of the third inning C.J. Wilson struck out Brandon Inge looking, before he gave up the solo home-run to struggling eighth place hitter Alex Avila to tie the game 1-1. The Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Delmon Young homered to center field to make the score 2-1. As you would expect the Rangers came back in the fifth inning to tie the game 2-2, when Ian Kinsler walked and Elvis Andrus singled to left field. Josh Hamilton singled to center field to score Ian Kinsler. The Rangers Elvis Andrus on third base and Josh Hamilton on first base, Adrian Beltre's line drive shot was inches foul, that would have given the Rangers a 5-2 lead. However, Adrian Beltre ended up flying out to center field.

The Rangers blew a great opportunity in the sixth inning to open the game up. Texas had the bases loaded with one out. Ian Kinsler stepped up to the plate and hit the first pitch he saw to third baseman Brandon Inge, who turned an inning ending double play. The Tigers' Ryan Raburn starts the inning off, by hitting a single to left field, then Miguel Cabrera hit a line drive down the third base line that hit the bag, that went over Adrian Beltre's head into the left field corner for a double. Ryan Raburn scored the go ahead run to make it 3-2. The Tigers added on to their lead, when Victor Martinez tripled to right field, to score Miguel Cabrera to take a 4-2 lead. Delmon Young hit his second home-run of the game, when he hit a two run shot to left-center field to cap off a four run inning, to give the Tigers a 6-2 lead. The Rangers went down in order in their half of the seventh inning. Detroits' Ryan Raburn added one more run, when he hit a solo shot to right-center field off of Koji Uehara, to give the Tigers a five run lead at 7-2.

The Rangers still kept battling though, when Mike Napoli hit a line drive single to left field, then Nellie Cruz hit a two run home-run to left field to cut the Tigers lead to 7-4. The Rangers managed to stop the Tigers scoring, by setting them down in order. The Rangers are a team that battles to the very end, with two outs Josh Hamilton doubled to center field, then Michael Young singled to right field to score Hamilton to cut the lead to 7-5. Adrian Beltre walks to send the lead run at the plate in Mike Napoli. Napoli hit a soft grounder to second baseman Ramon Santiago, who flipped the ball to shortstop Johnny Paralta to end the game.

"The turning point of the game was when the Rangers' Adrian Beltre's bid for a three run home-run to take a 5-2 in the fifth inning, just foul. However, the Rangers had another chance to score runs in their half of the sixth, until Ian Kinsler hit into an inning ending double play."

"The Tigers took advantage of an unusual play, when Miguel Cabrera hit a line drive down the third base line when the ball hit the bag and over the head of Adrian Beltre, for a double to score Ryan Raburn."

The ALCS, has been a matter of inches or a matter of plays. The Rangers and Tigers are both equally dangerous on offense. However, for the most part, runs have been hard to come by. All the games in the series have been pitching duels. What a series this has been, and still game six and a possible game seven.

"The Rangers are in the same position as last year, going home with a 3-2 lead. Texas has had their backs against the wall before, but have come out on top. They proved that in game four, when they produced a four run inning to defeat theTigers 7-3."

"RANGERS LOOK TO CELEBRATE A CONSECUTIVE ALCS TITLE, SATURDAY NIGHT!"

Nellie Cruz is Texas' X-Factor

Texas' Cruz has been the big bat in their lineup in the ALCS. Nellie Cruz has hit four homers and nine runs batted in. In game one Cruz hit a solo home-run to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead, before the game was delayed by rain in Arlington. That solo shot proved to be the game winning hit, beating the Tigers 3-2.

In game two of the ALCS the battle between the Rangers and Tigers continued. Just like game one of the ALCS, runs were hard to come by. The Tigers had a 3-2 lead going to the bottom of the seventh inning when Cruz hit a solo homer to tie the game 3-3. Both the Rangers and Tigers pitching staffs were virtually unhittable or great defensive plays to keep the score tied. When both teams had a chance to score they could not deliver the clutch hit. In the bottom of the eleventh inning the Rangers had the bases loaded, when Nellie Cruz stepped up to the plate. Nellie delivered the "CRUSHING" blow to the Tigers, when he hit a walk-off grandslam to beat the Tigers 7-3.

"Rangers' Cruz set major league baseball history, by being the first player to hit a walk-off grandslam in postseason play."

The Rangers had a 2-0 lead in the ALCS, going into game three. The Tigers brought out their heavy bats with Martinez, Cabrera, and Peralta going long to open up the game at 5-1. The Rangers could not seem to figure out Detroits' pitcher Doug Fister. When the Rangers did get base hits off of Fister, they were eye seeing singles hit softly. The Rangers managed to add on another run in the eighth inning, but went on to lose 5-2. Suddenly the momentum seemed to change, since the Rangers have not played well in Comerica Park.

With the Tigers cutting into the Rangers ALCS lead 2-1, many skeptics felt like the momentum was on the Tigers side even though they were behind in the series. Skeptics said, even though Texas has the lead in the series they must win game four, so they would not have to face Justin Verlander with the series tied 2-2. If the Rangers lose they could be going back home trailing 3-2.

Like game one of the ALCS, the fans found themselves sitting in a rain delay. The game did not start until 5:30 pm (EST). Game four was another tense battle. The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, when Miguel Cabrera hit a two run double. The Rangers came back in the sixth inning, when David Murphy singled to left field, then Ian Kinsler doubled to left field scoring David Murphy. Ian Kinsler steals third base, while Elvis Andrus was at the plate. Andrus, then hits a line drive single to center field, to score Ian Kinsler to tie the score 2-2. Detroits' pitcher Rick Porcello tried to pick-off Elvis Andrus at first base, but made a bad throw. Andrus moved to second base, on the bad throw. Michael Young was at the plate, who has not had an rbi in postseason play this season. He delivered a single to center field to give the Rangers the lead 3-2. Detroit tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, when Brandon Inge hits a solo shot off Alexi Ogando in left field.

The battle continued when both the Rangers and Tigers could not score, when they had scoring opportunities to take the lead in the game. The Rangers had the bases loaded in the eighth inning and could not score. Rangers' manager Ron Washington took a gamble in the bottom of the eighth inning, by intentionally walking Miguel Cabrera, then Victor Martinez hit a single to right field. With Victor Martinez on first base and Miguel Cabrera on third base, with one out. Delmon Young hit a fly ball to right fielder Nellie Cruz, who threw to Mike Napoli to tag Miguel Cabrera at the plate for a double play.

In the Rangers eleventh inning Josh Hamilton hit the first pitch he saw from Jose Valverde to right field for a double, then Adrian Beltre was intentionally walked. Mike Napoli delivered a single to center field, to score Josh Hamilton to take a 4-3 lead on the Tigers. Nellie Cruz stepped up to the plate with Adrian Beltre on second base and Mike Napoli on first base, he delivered his eleventh inning magic again by hitting a three run homer to give the Rangers a 7-3 lead. The Rangers' Neftali Feliz closed out the game getting the Tigers out in order, to take a 3-1 lead in the ALCS.

"If game four holds true, then the Rangers are going to be back-to-back American League Champions and going to back-to-back World Series."

What a series so far for Nellie Cruz, not only with his offensive "BOOMSTICK," but his defensive play as well. If Texas defeats the Tigers today to win the American League Pennant, you know who the MVP of the ALCS is.

               "NELLIE (BOOMSTICK) CRUZ"