ALDS: The Amazing Rays VS The Cruzing Rangers

[Tobywan]

It feels like Déjà vu all over again.

Last time out the Rangers were the AL West Champs and the Rays were the AL East Champs. This time the Rangers are the repeat Champs and the Rays are the wildest AL wildcard winners in the history of the game.

Last time the road team won all 5 games, it went to a final showdown at the dome.
Last time it started and ended in ST Pete, this time it starts in Arlington and we'll see where it ends.

The Rays take Juego G, Longo, Super Sammy, Bossman Jr and a cast of characters to battle the Hambone, Lettuce, Str8edgeracer and Elvis and their powerful cast.



Tonight’s Matchup

The Rays are handing the ball to rookie Matt Moore, hopefully they gave him some big league luggage in trade for his Dora Explorer bag and umbrella as a reward. In his starting debut he K’d 11 Yankees in 5 scoreless innings during a spot start to help a tired Rays rotation.

Welcome to the Major Leagues baby!



The Rangers will send their ace CJ “Str8edgeracer” Wilson to face the Rays. He was 6-2 in his past 11 starts. He was seventh in the AL in ERA, sixth in strikeouts and ninth in innings pitched. He was 8-2 in 16 home starts. Last season he went 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA in four starts in the playoffs

[Tobywan]

The Rays first round roster.



PITCHERS (11)

STARTERS
RH Jeremy Hellickson
LF Matt Moore
LH David Price
RH James Shields

RELIEVERS
RH Juan Cruz
RH Wade Davis
RH Kyle Farnsworth
RH Brandon Gomes
LH J.P. Howell
LH Jake McGee
RH Joel Peralta

CATCHERS (3)
John Jaso
Jose Lobaton
Kelly Shoppach


INFIELDERS (6)
Reid Brignac
Elliot Johnson
Casey Kotchman
Evan Longoria
Sean Rodriguez
Ben Zobrist

OUTFIELDERS (5)
Johnny Damon
Sam Fuld
Desmond Jennings
Matt Joyce
B.J. Upton


Left off for this round: INF Dan Johnson, RHP Jeff Niemann, LHP Cesar Ramos, OF Justin Ruggiano, RHP Andy Sonnanstine.

[Tobywan]

The Rangers first round roster.

RH Pitchers
Mike Adams
Scott Feldman
Neftali Feliz
Colby Lewis
Alexi Ogando
Koji Uehara

LH Pitchers
Michael Gonzalez
Matt Harrison
Derek Holland
Darren Oliver
C.J. Wilson

Catchers
Mike Napoli
Yorvit Torrealba
Matt Treanor

Infielders
Elvis Andrus
Adrian Beltre
Esteban German
Ian Kinsler
Mitch Moreland
Michael Young

Outfielders
Endy Chavez
Nelson Cruz
Craig Gentry
Josh Hamilton
David Murphy

[Tobywan]

Line-ups

Rays

Rodriguez SS
Upton CF
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Damon DH
Shoppach C
Kotchman 1B
Jennings CF
Joyce RF

Rangers

Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Hamilton CF
Young 1B
Beltre 3B
Napoli C
Cruz RF
Torrealba DH
Gentry LF


The Rangers are having Cooper Stone the 6 year old son of the Shannon Stone the man that died after falling over the railing trying to catch a ball throwing out the first pitch to Josh Hamilton. I hope they don’t show it on the broadcast I will be blubbering before the game even starts!!

[Tobywan]

So, they show it on the pre-game........

[Tobywan]

Rodriguez grounds out to third.
Upton Ks looking.
Longoria flies out to left.

[Tobywan]

Kinsler popped up to second.
Andrus Ks swinging.
Hamilton lines a single into left.
Young flies out to center.

[love_that_reefer]

2-0 thanks to Damon!!

[Tobywan]

Zobrist HBP
Damon after a close check swing called in his favor he hits a shot over the right field wall for a 2 run homer.

Rays take an early lead.

Shoppach flies to left, Gentry dives but can't keep a glove on it, base hit.
Kotchman grounds out to second, Shop moves up.
Jennings hits it high and deep, Gentry back to the warning track and makes the catch.
Joyce grounds one up the right field side past a diving Young and a diving Kinsler, Shop scores.

Rays lead 3-0.

SRod flies out to right.

[Tobywan]

Beltre pops out to third in foul territory.
Napoli grounds out to short.
Cruz Ks swinging.

On to the 3rd.

[Tobywan]

BJ Ks.
Longo lines a single through the middle.
Zorilla bunts, no play.
JD Ks.
Shop hits one high and deep to center and into the grassy knoll!!!!! OMG!! Yea, aren't you da man throwing it back.

Rays up 6-0.

Kotch pops out to short.

[Tobywan]

Torrealba grounds out to the pitcher.
Gentry Ks looking.
Kinsler walks.
Andrus lines right at Kotch.

[Tobywan]

DJ walks.
Matty J Ks. swinging.
SRod flies out to center.
BJ grounds into a force out, flip to second to get Jennings.

[Tobywan]

Hamilton lifts one high and deep over Joyce's head, karoms off the wall, for a lead off double........out comes the claw!
Young flies out to center.
Beltre lines to short, but they catch Hamilton off the bag and get the out on him, Beltre on at first.
Napoli batting, Beltre heads to second on a WP. Napoli down swinging.

On to the 5th.

[zodious]

Beltre's Error is even a bigger killer now!