Rangers Run Away from the Rays 11-5

May 30, 2011

V. Texas Rangers

Attendance: 14,203

W: Derek Holland (4-1) 4.96 ERA

L: Wade Davis (4-5) 4.52 ERA

Summary:

This was a rematch of last year’s Division Series which the Rangers took when they won three game in Tropicana Field. They did this by mainly beating the Rays at their own game–speed, speed, speed with a touch of power. You may remember that Elvis Andrus scored from second on a ground ball to first in Game Five.

The Rangers used their speed again tonight to frustrate the Rays who really didn’t show up until the middle innings. Wade Davis struggled through the first in which he allowed two doubles and single. He pitched a scoreless second but really labored thanks to an error and an infield single. The Rangers added two more infield singles in the third, but also added a pair a home runs. The crushing shot was a three run homer by Mike Napoli.

Before tonight the Rays had not had a multi-error game yet this year. In last year’s division series they had two such games. Sean Rodriguez made three errors himself to end the streak.

So, the Rays were down 7-0 early and eventually 9-1 before the Rays started to make a comeback. Ben Zobrist and Justin Ruggiano each homered, Ruggiano’s being a three run shot to draw the Rays within 9-5. The Rays even loaded the bases in the sixth bringing up B.J. Upton but he struck out as the tying run.

That was as close as the Rays got as the Rangers added two more in the eighth to put the game away 11-5.

Andy Sonnanstine threw an inning today indicating that the Rays will bring up Alex Cobb to make the start instead of Sonnanstine.

Player of the Game: Mike Napoli–3 for 6, 2 homers, 5 RBI