TORONTO -AP- The game didn't begin that well for rookie Hanser Alberto, but it ended very well.
Playing in place of possible Hall of FamerAdrian Beltre, who strained his back in Game 1, Alberto fumbled a grounder to third that led to two unearned runs and cost the Rangers the lead in the second inning Friday. But he came back to deliver a game-winning single in the top of the 14th inning of the Rangers' 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 2 of their AL Division Series.
The Rangers now return to Texas with a 2-0 lead in the series and needing to win just one of the possible two home games to advance to the ALCS. That’s pretty good for a team that lost 95 games last year and was below .500 and eight games back in the AL West in early August.
It’s also good for a team that hasn’t hit all that well in the middle of the order so far this series. Since Beltre left in the third inning Thursday, the Nos. 2-6 hitters are 6-for-39 with only one run and one RBI.
Fortunately, the Rangers bullpen has been very good, allowing only one run in 11 innings, including seven scoreless innings after starter Cole Hamels left Friday's game.
While the relievers held the Blue Jays scoreless, Alberto was able to single homeRougned Odor from second base with two outs in the 14th inning. Delino DeShieldsfollowed with an infield single that made it 6-4.
Rougned Odor scored the go-ahead run in the 14th inning as Texas took a 2-0 series lead. Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports
Thumbs up: Odor, who homered and played strong defense in Game 1, showed his versatility in Game 2. He went from first to third on a groundout to the mound in the second inning, then slid home safely on a short fly to center by shrewdly sweeping his hand across the plate to barely avoid the tag. Despite nearly getting tagged out returning to second base in the 14th, he also raced home to score the go-ahead run.
Thumbs down: Josh Hamilton ended the first inning by grounding into a double play (though the baserunners deserve some blame) and also struck out with two on in the sixth. He is now hitless in his past 30 postseason at-bats. Prince Fielder, meanwhile, extended his streak to 75 postseason at-bats without an RBI.
The Rangers now return to Texas with a 2-0 lead in the series and needing to win just one of the possible two home games to advance to the ALCS. That’s pretty good for a team that lost 95 games last year and was below .500 and eight games back in the AL West in early August.
It’s also good for a team that hasn’t hit all that well in the middle of the order so far this series. Since Beltre left in the third inning Thursday, the Nos. 2-6 hitters are 6-for-39 with only one run and one RBI.
Fortunately, the Rangers bullpen has been very good, allowing only one run in 11 innings, including seven scoreless innings after starter Cole Hamels left Friday's game.
While the relievers held the Blue Jays scoreless, Alberto was able to single homeRougned Odor from second base with two outs in the 14th inning. Delino DeShieldsfollowed with an infield single that made it 6-4.
Rougned Odor scored the go-ahead run in the 14th inning as Texas took a 2-0 series lead. Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports
Thumbs up: Odor, who homered and played strong defense in Game 1, showed his versatility in Game 2. He went from first to third on a groundout to the mound in the second inning, then slid home safely on a short fly to center by shrewdly sweeping his hand across the plate to barely avoid the tag. Despite nearly getting tagged out returning to second base in the 14th, he also raced home to score the go-ahead run.
Thumbs down: Josh Hamilton ended the first inning by grounding into a double play (though the baserunners deserve some blame) and also struck out with two on in the sixth. He is now hitless in his past 30 postseason at-bats. Prince Fielder, meanwhile, extended his streak to 75 postseason at-bats without an RBI.
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