UPDATED: Everything is just fine deep in the heart of Texas. The Rangers beat the Yankees in Game 6 of the ALCS and are going to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
View full sizeThe euphoric Rangers celebrate after knocking off the heavily favored New York Yankees on Friday night, putting Texas in its first World Series since the franchise joined the league in 1961.Where the Rangers are concerned it's something that's never happened until Friday, when they beat the Yankees, 6-1, in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to win their first pennant.
Young has waited 10 years and 1,508 regular-season games for a night like Friday. The Rangers and their fans have been waiting longer. Born as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961 before moving to Texas in 1972, this is their 50th year of existence.
No big-league club has ever waited this long to reach the World Series.
On a podium set up at second base, first-year owner Chuck Greenberg, whose purchase of the bankrupt Rangers from Tom Hicks became official earlier this year, shouted to the fans, "Hey, let's do this every year!"
The crowd of 51,404 roared its approval.
View full sizeThe Yankees' efforts to pitch around Rangers hitter Josh Hamilton didn't work ... he was name the MVP of the ALCS.Josh Hamilton, intentionally walked three times Friday, was named the series MVP. He hit .350 (7-for-20) with four homers and seven RBI. The Yankees walked him eight times, including an ALCS record five times intentionally.
"I don't want to talk about myself," Hamilton said. "I love my teammates and we all love the fans."
The Rangers, who outscored the Yankees, 38-19, in the series, won Game 6 in the fifth inning. Phil Hughes (0-2, 11.42) intentionally walked Hamilton with two out to put runners on first and third with the score tied, 1-1. Vladimir Guerrero, signed last winter to hit behind Hamilton and produce when the opposition wouldn't pitch to Hamilton, lined a two-run double to the wall in left center. The Rangers were on their way.
When Guerrero reached second, he gave his dugout and the fans "the claw," an outstretched arm that looks like he is taking a hook shot. The Rangers have been doing it all year after big hits.
There were more big hits coming. After David Robertson relieved Hughes, Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer into the left-field seats for a 5-1 lead.
Cruz is the Rangers' "antler man." Whenever he uses his speed on the bases, he looks into the Rangers dugout, puts his hands on either side of his batting helmet and waves them like antlers. If you run like a deer, you need antlers, right?
The Rangers made it 6-1 in the seventh on Ian Kinsler's sacrifice fly after Yankees reliever and former Indian Kerry Wood issued not one, but two intentional walks. He intentionally walked Hamilton and Cruz.
The win went to Rangers starter Colby Lewis. He spent the previous two seasons in Japan, and the Yankees probably wish he would have stayed there.
View full sizeThe Yankees' Nick Swisher was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, but the home-plate umpire ruled it a wild pitch, allowing Alex Rodriguez to score from third. It was the Yankees' only run of the game.Lewis beat New York and Hughes in Games 2 and 6. He was shaky in Game 2. Friday night he dominated the team with the $200 million payroll.
"I just thank the Rangers for bringing me back," Lewis said.
The Yankees, who hit .201 in the ALCS, scored one run against Lewis, and that was because of a blown call. Thankfully, it did not impact the outcome of the series.
Lewis (2-0, 1.98) allowed three hits in eight innings. He struck out seven and walked three. Overall, he allowed three runs and struck out 13 in 13 2/3 innings in the ALCS.
"He got it done for his teammates, for his team and for the fans," said manager Ron Washington.
Neftali Feliz finished the ninth.
The Yankees tied the game, 1-1, with a tainted run in the fifth.
Alex Rodriguez, hitting .176 in the first five games, doubled to start the inning. He went to third on Lance Berkman's fly ball and scored on what plate umpire Brian Gorman saw as a wild pitch.
The ball clearly hit Nick Swisher in the left leg. It changed directions and went through catcher Bengie Molina's legs as Rodriguez jogged home.
"This hurts," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "They beat us. They out-hit us, out-pitched us and outplayed us."
The Rangers, who hit .301 in the series, took a 1-0 lead in the first. Shortstop Elvis Andrus opened the game with a double of New York's Phil Hughes. Hamilton moved him to third with a single to left and Andrus scored on Guerrero's grounder to second.
Andrus' double ran his hitting streak to 11 games this postseason. When he reached second, he did the claw. It was a sign of good things to come.
To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158