Texas Takes Lead In Wild Card Race

Should we go ahead and finally admit that this Rangers team isn't like virtually every other Rangers team we've seen since they moved to town from Washington back in 1972?

After watching Frankie Francisco undergo a complete and fantastic meltdown in the first game of the Red Sox series, most longtime Rangers fans has to take a step back, let out an all-too-familar sigh and think, "There it is. There's the catostrophic moment. The season just ended."

I did. I admit it.

But whether it's the quality of the veteran leadership on this team, or maybe the beautiful ignorance of youth, or perhaps it's just the fact that for damn near the first time in the history of this franchise it's actually got some pitching, these Texas Rangers are not going away.

Texas controlled the series from the start, taking an early 2-0 lead in game one when Michael Young connected for his 20th homerun of the season.

But after the normally reliable (and often dominant) Frankie Francisco fell apart on the mound to the tune of six earned runs in 2/3 of an inning, it was hard to think anything but the worst.



But much like they've done all season long, the Rangers regrouped, came back out on Saturday night and, thanks in part to a big nights by a returning Ian Kinsler (2-for-3 with a solo homerun and a walk) and the ever-maturing Derek Holland (6 2/3 innings, 2 earned runs), dropped the Red Sox 7-2.

Rookies Julio Borbon and Neftali Feliz added tot he big night by turning in huge performances as well.

Borbon, hitting leadoff, went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and 4 stolen bases. Texas stole 8 bases on the night, keeping constant pressure on Boston's defense.

Neftali Feliz pitched two innings of lights-out baseball, striking out three en route to his first career save.



The win set up a huge final game on Sunday to determine who would take the lead in the AL Wild Card race.

Texas got another gutsy performance from Dustin Nippert who is really beginning to make believers out of a good many of the naysayers.

C.J. Wilson was an adventure in the 8th, allowing two baserunners before striking out the side and giving way to Frankie Francisco.

Itching to get back out on the mound after Friday nights debacle, Frankie came up huge for the Rangers, needing just 10 pitches to retire the side in order. The performance had to be a huge phycological boost not only for the closer, but for his teammates as well.

"I believe if I can go out there and spot my fastball where I want it, I can get any hitter out," said Francisco. "I just approached them the same way: Just try to hit my spots, and I did."



With the series win, Texas moved 1/2 game ahead of Boston in the Wild Card Standings and, with 6 weeks to play in the season, and with the way things seem to be coming together for the team, one has to figure that Texas will be in the hunt up until the end.

Texas Almost No-Hit In Boston Massacre

The story in game 2 of the series in Boston was Red Sox starter John Lester. Lester retired the first 22 hitters of the game before allowing a double to Michael Young. Regardless, Lester went the full nine innings, allowing only two hits while striking out 11 in the 8-1 victory.

"It felt good," Lester said of his outing. "I was able to throw strikes with a lot of different pitches tonight and command both sides of the plate, which helps. [Catcher Jason Varitek] did a great job of honing that and making sure that I didn't get ahead of myself and try to think two, three pitches ahead, and just focus on that one pitch."

The Rangers players seemed ready to just chalk it up to 'one of those nights.'

"That was just lights-out," Michael Young said of Lester's performance. "That was one of the best games I've seen in my career by a pitcher, topping at 98 [mph], pounding the strike zone. [He] used all his pitches, back-doored his cutter, threw his cutter in, curveball, changeup. You have to give him credit. He flat out threw a good game."



Conversely, Derek Holland, who started out strong (allowing only 1 run in 4 2/3 innings) imploded, surrendering three more runs in the 5th, admitting he lost his feel after having a balk called him.

"I kind of let it get to me," Holland said. "The balk just stayed in my head the whole time, and I lost my composure out there. You just let one thing build up, and it's kind of a snowball effect."

Kris Benson did no better, allowing four more runs to score in the 5th. One of the runs came off the bat of the struggling David Ortiz, a solo homerun that just barely wrapped around Pesky's Pole in right field.

But for all the offense Boston put on the board, the night belonged to John Lester.

"I know his record doesn't show how good he can pitch, but I think the Red Sox fans know how good he can pitch," Ron Washington said. "Tonight was one of the nights he did it."