Game 1 Recap
Coming off a 7-2 loss to the Angels in which Kevin Millwood didn't make it out of the 2nd inning, the Rangers needed a good performance from their starter, and that's what they got. Brandon McCarthy, who has generally struggled this year, pitched 6 innings allowing 3 runs and striking out 7 Devil Ray batters. McCarthy matched TB starter James Shields who also allowed 3 runs, although he pitched 8 innings. One of the Rangers 3 runs off Shields came courtesy of a Hank Blalock homerun in the 5th, his 5th homerun of the season. That homerun helped a 5th inning rally that tied that game at 3. The Ranger pen was solid with Benoit pitching 2 scoreless and Otsuka pitching 1 scoreless, but the D-Ray pen also pitched scoreless ball keeping the game tied at 3 through 9 innings, meaning an extra inning game. Scott Feldman pitching the 10th for Texas and it was a disaster. He allowed a run on 2 hits and 2 walks without ever registering an out and the Devil Rays went on to win the game 4-3.