Rangers Fall In Detroit, Lead Now 3-2

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The Texas Rangers leave Detroit with a 7-5 loss in Game 5 of the ALCS.  The Rangers return home with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Starting pitcher C.J. Wilson had 5 good innings, but things went wild in the bottom of the 6th.  With the score tied at 2-2, Wilson gave up a single to Ryan Rayburn.  Miguel Cabrera then hit what looked to be a routine double play ball, but the ball hit the 3rd base bag and bounced over Adrian Beltre for an RBI double, giving the Tigers the lead.   The very next batter, Victor Martinez, triples to right field, and then Delmon Young hits a 2-run homer.  The 4-run inning ended Wilson’s night and the Rangers hopes of winning.  Ryan Rayburn hits a home run in the 7th inning off reliever Koji Uehara to extend the score to 7-2.

The Rangers rallied in the 8th inning when Mike Napoli singled and was brought home on Nelson Cruz’ 5th postseason home run.  Cruz becomes the first player in MLB history to hit 5 home runs in a Championship Series.

Texas got another run in the 9th inning when Josh Hamilton doubled and was brought home on a Michael Young single to right field. 

C.J. Wilson gets the loss, dropping him to 0-2 in three postseason starts this year.  Koji Uehara became the first reliever to give up home runs in three consecutive postseason games.

The Rangers had plenty of opportunity for the win, but the Texas batters left 18 runners on base.

Outfielder Josh Hamilton takes the loss in stride, saying, “We’re still going home with a chance to win it. We would have liked to have finished it off here, but it’s good being able to at least take one of three here, considering our history here. It’s better than going home down, 3-2.”

Game 6 is 7:05pm at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.  Derek Holland is scheduled to take the mound against Max Scherzer.