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got Ryan to ground into a double play -- with a
Topic Started: Dec 20 2012, 11:34 AM (46 Views)
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SEATTLE -- No matter what game plan Texas Matt Harrison takes into his starts against Seattle, or the adjustments he decides to make, they all work when facing the Mariners. Brian Cushing Youth Jersey . Harrison tossed a five-hitter for his 12th victory, Adrian Beltre had three hits and two RBIs, and the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0 on Sunday afternoon. Harrisons 12th win kept him even with Tampa Bays David Price for the most in the American League and continued his streak against the Mariners. Harrison (12-4) has won eight straight starts against Seattle and is 5-0 all-time at Safeco Field. The eight straight wins over one team is the third longest streak in Rangers history. Charlie Hough won 13 straight against Cleveland and nine straight against Minnesota. "I dont know what it is really," Harrison said. "I pitch against them a lot against the season. Im really familiar with what I want to do against those guys. ... You still have to go out and execute your pitches and it seems like Ive been able to do it more against this team than any other." It was the fourth complete-game shutout for Harrison and second this season, also tossing a five-hitter against San Francisco last month. And he did it mostly without the strikeout. Harrison fanned three, tied for his season-low. Harrison wasnt sharp early, perhaps a hangover from his rough outing in the All-Star Game when he gave up three runs on four hits. But when Harrison made a mistake, they usually came with two outs and his defence was able to help him from giving Seattle any big innings. Harrison found a rhythm in the later innings and set down the final seven batters he faced. "He went out there in the seventh, eighth and ninth and did what youre supposed to do as a very good pitcher when your team has the lead," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "If you want to be in the game late, go and get those outs in the seventh, eighth and ninth. (Harrison) wants to have the ball and we had discussions a couple of months ago. If you want to finish ballgames, get outs in the seventh, eighth and ninth." Harrison threw 114 pitches, and allowed just four singles and Brendan Ryans two-out double in the fifth inning. Ian Kinsler added his 10th homer of the season on the first pitch of the fifth inning off Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma (1-2), who struggled through five innings. But it was Beltre an inning earlier that gave Harrison cushion to work with as the Rangers took two of three from the Mariners to begin the second half of the season. Craig Gentry opened the fourth inning with a single and Elvis Andrus doubled to right with one-out. Instead of taking their chances, the Mariners intentionally walked Josh Hamilton to load the bases. Beltre followed by bouncing a single through the left side of the infield to score Gentry and Andrus and the second of his three singles. "It doesnt make me mad. It fires me up because I want that challenge," Beltre said. "I dont blame other teams for doing it, but I welcome the challenge. And I like it." Beltre was robbed of a fourth hit when Chone Figgins jumped and pulled down his line drive in the eighth. Hamilton added an RBI groundout in the first inning, his Major League-leading 76th of the season. Seattle was shut out for the 11th time this season -- tied for most in the league with Oakland -- with the only offensive highlight being rookie Jesus Montero snapping a 0-for-23 skid with a single in the first inning. Seattle got base runners on Harrison but could never get a clutch two-out hit. The Mariners most promising threat came in the seventh after a one-out single by Michael Saunders and walk to Figgins. But Harrison got Ryan to ground into a double play -- with a nice pick by Michael Young at first base -- to end the threat. "Once he got through the lineup a couple of times you saw him work that change-up and start getting guys off balance," Ryan said. "It shows how good his stuff is because he can go to his third pitch and its still pretty effective." NOTES: Texas won a road series against an AL West foe for the first time this season. ... Washington said RHP Alexi Ogando could rejoin the team on Tuesday in Oakland. Ogando has been on the DL since June 12 with a groin strain. Ogando has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock. ... Sunday was the 13th anniversary of the opening of Safeco Field. Brian Cushing Jersey . The fine is reportedly in the range of $250,000. "The Detroit Red Wings organization and the League agree that the comments made by Mr. Devellano are neither appropriate, nor authorized, nor permissible under the Leagues By-Laws," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. Owen Daniels Womens Jersey . The 24-year-old from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., won a silver medal at the 2011 Canadian championships, but was forced to withdraw from the world championships that same year with a knee injury. http://www.fanstexansroom.com/danieal-manning-jersey . Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron was quoted in sports daily LEquipe on Friday as saying "no member of the government will attend matches in Ukraine" to protest the treatment of the jailed former prime minister Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year jail term on charges of abuse of office, condemned as politically motivated by the West. Matt Schaub Womens Jersey . The 17-year-old Dumba played the last two seasons for the Red Deer Rebels in Alberta of the Western Hockey League, leading WHL defencemen in the 2011-12 season with 20 goals in 69 games. Bradie James Jersey . TSNs exclusive live coverage begins Saturday at 9 p.m. ET with Canadas opening draw against USA. Coverage runs March 17-25 and features every Canada draw plus the playoffs and Final (see complete broadcast schedule below).(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers are back in the American League Championship Series for the second straight year, while the Detroit Tigers find themselves in this round for the first time since 2006. After beating the New York Yankees to advance to their first ALCS last year, the Rangers magical run ended with a loss to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. The Rangers returned to the postseason this year by winning a second consecutive AL West crown. Then after a 9-0 drubbing at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS, the Rangers rebounded with three straight wins to move on. The Tigers, meanwhile, are back in the postseason for the first time since winning the AL pennant in 2006, a season that ended with a five-game loss in the Fall Classic to the St. Louis Cardinals. This year, though, the Tigers won their first division title since 1987, taking home their first-ever AL Central crown. They were led, of course, by right-hander Justin Verlander, who turned in one of the finest seasons ever by a Detroit starter, as he took home pitchings Triple Crown by leading the AL in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Verlander and the Tigers advanced in the ALDS with a thrilling five-game win over the Yankees. Detroit, which is making its fourth trip to the ALCS, handled the Rangers during the regular season, taking six of the nine matchups. This, though, will be the first-ever postseason meeting between the clubs. As an introduction to this ALCS matchup, lets take a look at the keys to winning the series for both clubs: TEXAS RANGERS 1. BULLPEN Following the acquisitions of Koji Uehara, Mike Adams and Mike Gonzalez, the Rangers were supposed to have one of the better bullpens in the postseason. However the group disappointed against the Rays, as Adams gave up a home run and three consecutive walks in Game 3, while Uehara surrendered a three-run homer to Evan Longoria in Game 2. Also closer Neftali Feliz left the potential tying run stranded in the ninth in the last two games. Texas manager Ron Washington may have found his answer should the group continue to struggle, as right-hander Alexi Ogando, who won 13 games as a starter this season, pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the ALDS. Ogando ran out of steam down the stretch, but he can still dial it up for an inning or two a game in this series if need be. 2. STARTERS The starting rotation could be a bit of a concern, as Colby Lewis was the only starter to go more than five innings in the ALDS. Game 1 starter C.J. Wilson spit the bit in his game, but could change the feeling of the group with a solid outing on Saturday. His best may not be enough that night, though, as he will draw Verlander, who was the leagues best pitcher this season. The key to this series could be left-hander Derek&nbbsp;Holland, who tied for the AL lead with four shutouts this season. Glover Quin Womens Jersey. Given the fact that manager Ron Washington has already stated that Lewis will start on the road, Hollands Game 2 start becomes even more important should the Rangers be unable to solve Verlander in the first game. 3. CONTINUING THE OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT After being held in check in Game 1 against the Rays, the Rangers responded with three straight wins to nail down a series victory. It seemed to be a different hero every night, as five Texas batters drove in multiple runs in the series with Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli leading the way with four RBI apiece. Beltre also tied a postseason record by swatting three home runs in the Rangers Game 4 clincher, while Napoli hit .357 in the series. The Rangers lineup is loaded from 1-through-9 with former MVP Josh Hamilton leading the way, along with the likes of Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz and the incredibly underrated Michael Young, who was arguably the teams best player this season, hitting .338 with 106 RBI. Continuing that run may not be easy against a tough Detroit rotation, but it could be a staff that is running on fumes following their five-game series win over the Yankees. DETROIT TIGERS 1. HEALTH OF DELMON YOUNG You can make the argument that the Tigers werent complete until the mid- August acquisition of Young from Minnesota. Young, who hits in front of Miguel Cabrera, was a huge part of Detroits ALDS win, as he became the first Tiger ever to hit three home runs in a postseason series. He also batted .316, but was forced to leave Thursdays contest with an oblique strain and his status for the next round is unclear. 2. JUSTIN VERLANDER Detroit manager Jim Leyland said before the playoffs began that he would not use Verlander on three-days rest. But, he made a point to say that he wouldnt do so in a five-game series. He didnt say anything about a seven- game set. But given the way Leyland had to utilize his pitchers in the Yankees series, he may not be able to use Verlander three times even if he wanted to, unless he wanted to start Max Scherzer on two-days rest in Game 2 on Sunday. Expect Verlander to go in Game 1 and Game 5 and be available if needed for a stint in Game 7. 3. PAPA GRANDE It isnt always pretty, but closer Jose Valverde has gotten the job done all 51 times he has had to make a save this season. He always seems to bend, but has yet to break this season, including two shaky outings in the ALDS, before shutting the door on the heart of the Yankees order in the ninth on Thursday. Given the Rangers relentless lineup you would think Valverde will once again be put to the test at some point in this series. How that turns out could be a deciding factor in who moves on in this series. ' ' '
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