After scoring just one run in the first two games of their series, the Tampa Bay Rays kept saying all they need is one big hit. One big hit and then the floodgates would open. I guess the Rays know themselves pretty well because they were right on the money with their thinking.
The Rays got the big hit they needed on Saturday when Carlos Pena drove in pinch-runner Desmond Jennings to tie the game at two in the eighth. After that hit, the floodgates opened as John Jaso gave the Rays a lead, and Carl Crawford added on to it.
The Rays eventually won 6-3, and have stayed off elimination for at least one more day. The Texas Rangers still hold a 2-1 series lead, but I think this series is just getting started.
While Jaso’s single scored Pena in the top of the eighth gave the Rays a 3-2 lead, I thought Pena’s hit was the straw that started to stir the drink for the Rays. They had been terrible in big spots, including with runners on base all series, and Pena’s hit was a major breakthrough.
The hit ignited Pena as well as he followed his big hit in the eighth with a monster two-run HR to right center in the ninth to give the Rays a three-run lead. Pena is such an X-factor in this series. If he can get going, he will give the Rays another threat in their lineup.
Here are some other observations from yesterday’s game…
Colby Lewis was good (two hits, no runs, and five K’s over five innings), but the walks killed him. And it was the two-out walks that did him in. Lewis walked Pena with two outs in the second, then he walked Dan Johnson with two outs in the fourth, and walked Jaso and Ben Zobrist with two outs in the fifth.
Speaking of Johnson, can someone explain this guy to me? He is a nickle and dimer for 98 percent of the season, but when he plays the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, or plays in a big series, he turns into Barry Bonds. He went 2-for-3 with a walk yesterday, and his rocket double off of Darren Oliver in the eighth set the table for Pena.
Watching yesterday’s game, you can see why the Rangers were very good this year and should be good for years to come. They play with a ton of energy and have a tremendous amount of chemistry. You get the feel that they really enjoy playing with each other.
Ian Kinsler was a man possessed in Game 3. He was diving all over the place, and his solo HR in the seventh was a rocket down the left-field line. Because of injuries, he often gets overlooked when talking about the best second basemen in the game, but when he is healthy he can rake with anyone.
I know there is talk of the Rays potentially trading Matt Garza in the offseason to add offense, but that would be a major mistake. The guy once again proved that he is a big-game pitcher in Game 3. Five hits, one earned run, two walks, and four K’s in six innings of work. He should get the nickname “Big game,” not James Shields.
Very underrated spot in the game—bottom of the sixth and Elvis Andrus led off the innings with an infield single. Garza was clearly distracted with Andrus on base and fell behind 2-0 to Michael Young. Garza got himself together, and got Young to chase three sliders outside the zone to strike him out.
Garza then struck out Josh Hamilton and with some help from Jason Bartlett, got Nelson Cruz to end the inning. The inning was shaping up to be a big one for the Rangers, and those three sliders completely changed that inning.
Andrus stole second that inning, but should have been called out. His foot was clearly off the bag and Bartlett’s glove was still on his leg when this happened. Oh well, yet another blown call by the umpires.
Ron Washington is going to find out real quickly that if he keeps going to the Darren Oliver well, the bucket is going to come up empty more often than not.
With his two sliding catches and HR, Crawford probably made himself $7-$10 million more this offseason.
Game 4 will be played today at 1:00 PM est, and features an interesting matchup between Wade Davis and Tommy Hunter. I like the Rays to win today, and force a Game 5 back at The Trop.
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