Texas Rangers advance to ALCS against Yankees

I admit it.  I doubted Cliff Lee in August.  I was wrong.  Cliff Lee pitched a complete game as the Texas Rangers won their first ever playoff series with a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.  Lee won two of the three Rangers victories, both on the road.  In the process, Lee set an ALDS record with 21 strikeouts, 11 in this game.

The Rangers went up first with aggressive base-running.  Elvis Andrus steals 2nd and then scores on a ground ball by Josh Hamilton.  The Rays tie the game in the third, but the Rangers come right back in the 4th.  Nelson Cruz hits the wall for a double and then steals 3rd and scores on a throwing error.  

The Rangers score again when Vladimir Guerrero charges home on an Ian Kinsler fielders choice.

Texas gets insurance in the 9th as Ian Kinsler hits a 2-run home run to left field.

Texas will host the New York Yankees Friday night in Arlington to start the American League Championship Series.