Texas extends lead on Cruz's blast as Cards edge Brewers
Source: Agencies |
October 14, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NELSON Cruz slammed a three-run homer in the 11th inning to seal a 7-3 victory for the Texas Rangers over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, moving the visitors within one win of a repeat trip to the World Series.
Cruz, who crushed a winning grand slam homer in extra-innings to give Texas a victory in Game 2, delivered the decisive blow again to hand the Rangers a 3-1 lead in the American League championship series.
Texas can clinch a spot in the Fall Classic today with a Game 5 victory, also at Comerica Park in Detroit.
Cruz has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Rangers, pounding four homers in four games and driving in nine runs as well as etching his name in the record books as the only player to hit two extra-inning homers in the same postseason series.
This time the right fielder's heroics came after Mike Napoli had broken open a 3-3 deadlock with a base hit to center that scored Josh Hamilton, who had led off the 11th with a double.
When Cruz was not scoring runs, the flashy Dominican was robbing them, denying Detroit a go-ahead score in the bottom of the eighth by throwing out Miguel Cabrera at home with a perfect dart from right field.
"Thank you Nelson Cruz," Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters. "We certainly needed what he gave us. I don't judge Nelson just because he hits balls out of the ball park. He's a complete player. He takes pride in every part of his game."
Following a two-hour, 13-minute rain delay, Game 4 began under a steady drizzle and the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 third-inning lead on a two-run double from Cabrera, that extended his postseason career hitting streak to 11 games.
After limiting the Rangers to just two hits through five innings, Tigers starter Rick Porcello was rocked in the sixth with Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus and Michael Young each driving in a run to nudge Texas ahead 3-2.
Brandon Inge sent a jolt through the Texas dugout when he crushed a towering two-out solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the chilled capacity crowd exploding in a towel-waving celebration.
Detroit had a chance to retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Texas intentionally walked American League batting champion Cabrera to get to Victor Martinez.
Rocket throw
The Tigers designated hitter made the Rangers pay for the slight, driving a base hit that sent Cabrera to third with one out. Delmon Young then pounded a fly ball to deep right but Cabrera could not beat Cruz's rocket throw to the plate.
Escaping Detroit with the ALCS will not be easy for Texas with the Tigers sending ace and 24-game winner Justin Verlander to the hill for the must-win contest.
In St Louis, a fiery Chris Carpenter pitched his way out of danger against bitter rivals the Milwaukee Brewers to earn a 4-3 victory for St Louis that gave the Cardinals an edge in the National League championship series.
The Cardinals jumped out early with four runs in the first inning against Milwaukee ace Yovani Gallardo and veteran Carpenter held firm under pressure as St Louis took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 4 in St Louis today.
With bad blood between Carpenter and Milwaukee stemming from a regular season confrontation, and fueled by disparaging comments from the Brewers prior to the series, the big right-hander was squarely in the spotlight.
After Carpenter allowed two runs in the second inning and a solo home run to Mark Kotsay in the third to cut the lead to one, he struck out Rickie Weeks with two outs and two men on in the fifth to put a stamp on his emotional night. He walked three batters and allowed six hits during his five innings and the St Louis bullpen dominated the rest of the way, closing with 12 straight outs to end the game.
Four different relievers contributed to the gem with Jason Motte handling the final 1 1/3 innings and striking out three batters.
Cruz, who crushed a winning grand slam homer in extra-innings to give Texas a victory in Game 2, delivered the decisive blow again to hand the Rangers a 3-1 lead in the American League championship series.
Texas can clinch a spot in the Fall Classic today with a Game 5 victory, also at Comerica Park in Detroit.
Cruz has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Rangers, pounding four homers in four games and driving in nine runs as well as etching his name in the record books as the only player to hit two extra-inning homers in the same postseason series.
This time the right fielder's heroics came after Mike Napoli had broken open a 3-3 deadlock with a base hit to center that scored Josh Hamilton, who had led off the 11th with a double.
When Cruz was not scoring runs, the flashy Dominican was robbing them, denying Detroit a go-ahead score in the bottom of the eighth by throwing out Miguel Cabrera at home with a perfect dart from right field.
"Thank you Nelson Cruz," Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters. "We certainly needed what he gave us. I don't judge Nelson just because he hits balls out of the ball park. He's a complete player. He takes pride in every part of his game."
Following a two-hour, 13-minute rain delay, Game 4 began under a steady drizzle and the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 third-inning lead on a two-run double from Cabrera, that extended his postseason career hitting streak to 11 games.
After limiting the Rangers to just two hits through five innings, Tigers starter Rick Porcello was rocked in the sixth with Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus and Michael Young each driving in a run to nudge Texas ahead 3-2.
Brandon Inge sent a jolt through the Texas dugout when he crushed a towering two-out solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the chilled capacity crowd exploding in a towel-waving celebration.
Detroit had a chance to retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Texas intentionally walked American League batting champion Cabrera to get to Victor Martinez.
Rocket throw
The Tigers designated hitter made the Rangers pay for the slight, driving a base hit that sent Cabrera to third with one out. Delmon Young then pounded a fly ball to deep right but Cabrera could not beat Cruz's rocket throw to the plate.
Escaping Detroit with the ALCS will not be easy for Texas with the Tigers sending ace and 24-game winner Justin Verlander to the hill for the must-win contest.
In St Louis, a fiery Chris Carpenter pitched his way out of danger against bitter rivals the Milwaukee Brewers to earn a 4-3 victory for St Louis that gave the Cardinals an edge in the National League championship series.
The Cardinals jumped out early with four runs in the first inning against Milwaukee ace Yovani Gallardo and veteran Carpenter held firm under pressure as St Louis took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 4 in St Louis today.
With bad blood between Carpenter and Milwaukee stemming from a regular season confrontation, and fueled by disparaging comments from the Brewers prior to the series, the big right-hander was squarely in the spotlight.
After Carpenter allowed two runs in the second inning and a solo home run to Mark Kotsay in the third to cut the lead to one, he struck out Rickie Weeks with two outs and two men on in the fifth to put a stamp on his emotional night. He walked three batters and allowed six hits during his five innings and the St Louis bullpen dominated the rest of the way, closing with 12 straight outs to end the game.
Four different relievers contributed to the gem with Jason Motte handling the final 1 1/3 innings and striking out three batters.
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