SB Nation Tampa Bay - Rays Lose ALDS To Texas Rangershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2010-10-13T12:05:36-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14945892010-10-13T12:05:36-04:002010-10-13T12:05:36-04:00Tampa Bay Rays Fail In ALDS
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<p><span>Cliff Lee</span> fanned 11 batters in a complete game effort and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> won a postseason set for the first time in franchise history, <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/12/1745465/mlb-playoffs-alds-game-5-rays-look-to-complete-historic-comeback">beating Tampa Bay, 5-1, in the deciding Game 5</a> of their American League Division Series.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/13/1748986/tampa-bay-rays-fail-in-aldsGregg Burrage2010-10-11T09:30:13-04:002010-10-11T09:30:13-04:00ALDS Rangers/Rays: Rays Win Another, Even Series
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<p><span>Evan Longoria</span> went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a two-run homer and rookie <span>Wade Davis</span> won in his postseason debut, as the Tampa Bay <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/10/1741805/mlb-playoffs-alds-game-4-the-fight-to-stay-alive-part-2">Rays forced a deciding game back in St. Petersburg with a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in Game 4</a> of their American League Division Series.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/11/1744318/alds-rangers-rays-rays-win-another-even-seriesGregg Burrage2010-10-11T09:28:18-04:002010-10-11T09:28:18-04:00ALDS Rays/Rangers - Tampa Bay Takes Game Three, Texas Up 2 Games To 1
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<p><span>Matt Garza</span> provides six strong innings and the Tampa Bay offense finally wakes up to keep the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> hopes alive.</p>
<p>Home runs by Crawford and Pena lead the Tampa Bay <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/9/1740095/mlb-playoffs-game-3">Rays to a 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers</a>.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/11/1744311/alds-rays-rangers-tampa-bay-takes-game-three-texas-up-2-games-to-1Gregg Burrage2010-10-08T09:24:43-04:002010-10-08T09:24:43-04:00MLB Playoffs ALDS Rangers Up 2 Games To None
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>’ <span>C.J. Wilson</span> spun 6 1/3 scoreless innings while <span>Michael Young</span> and <span>Ian Kinsler</span> hit home runs to lead <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2010/10/7/1736279/mlb-playoffs-rays-rangers-game-2">Texas to a 6-0 win over Tampa Bay</a> and a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/8/1738345/mlb-playoffs-alds-rangers-up-2-games-to-noneGregg Burrage2010-10-07T10:27:54-04:002010-10-07T10:27:54-04:00Rays Playoff Roster
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<h3>Tampa Bay Rays Roster</h3>
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<th class="td-left">pitchers</th>
<th>#</th>
<th>Pos.</th>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Grant Balfour</span></td>
<td>50</td>
<td>P</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Joaquin Benoit</span></td>
<td>53</td>
<td>P</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Randy Choate</span></td>
<td>36</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Wade Davis</span></td>
<td>40</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Matt Garza</span></td>
<td>22</td>
<td>P</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Jeff Niemann</span></td>
<td>34</td>
<td>P</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>David Price</span></td>
<td>14</td>
<td>P</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Chad Qualls</span></td>
<td>55</td>
<td>P</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>James Shields</span></td>
<td>33</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Rafael Soriano</span></td>
<td>29</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Dan Wheeler</span></td>
<td>35</td>
<td>P</td>
</tr>
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<th class="td-left">catchers</th>
<th>#</th>
<th>Pos.</th>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>John Jaso</span></td>
<td>28</td>
<td>C</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Kelly Shoppach</span></td>
<td>10</td>
<td>C</td>
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<th class="td-left">infielders</th>
<th>#</th>
<th>Pos.</th>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Jason Bartlett</span></td>
<td>8</td>
<td>SS</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Reid Brignac</span></td>
<td>15</td>
<td>2B</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Evan Longoria</span></td>
<td>3</td>
<td>3B</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Carlos Pena</span></td>
<td>23</td>
<td>1B</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Sean Rodriguez</span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>SS</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Ben Zobrist</span></td>
<td>18</td>
<td>2B</td>
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<th class="td-left">outfielders</th>
<th>#</th>
<th>Pos.</th>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Rocco Baldelli</span></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>RF</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Carl Crawford</span></td>
<td>13</td>
<td>LF</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Desmond Jennings</span></td>
<td>27</td>
<td>CF</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Matt Joyce</span></td>
<td>20</td>
<td>RF</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>B.J. Upton</span></td>
<td>2</td>
<td>CF</td>
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<th class="td-left">designated hitters</th>
<th>#</th>
<th>Pos.</th>
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<td class="td-name td-first"><span>Dan Johnson</span></td>
<td>24</td>
<td>DH</td>
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</tbody>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><a href="https://www.draysbay.com//roster" class="link-more">More</a></p>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/7/1736343/rays-playoff-rosterGregg Burrage2010-10-06T16:57:19-04:002010-10-06T16:57:19-04:00Lee Dominant In Showdown Of Aces As Rangers Take 1-0 Series Lead
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<p>St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) – <span>Cliff Lee</span> struck out 10 in seven masterful innings, and Texas got home runs from Nelson Cruz and <span>Bengie Molina</span> on its way to a 5-1 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> in Game 1 of their American League Division Series matchup.</p>
<p>The AL West-champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> are back in the postseason for the first time since 1999 and got just their second playoff win in franchise history.</p>
<p>Texas has lost all three playoff series it has contested, but took a big step toward its first victory thanks to Lee, who gave up just one run on five hits and did not walk a batter.</p>
<p>Lee got support from his offense, which plated five runs (four earned) off Tampa Bay ace <span>David Price</span>. Price gave up nine hits in 6 2/3 innings, though did not walk a batter and struck out eight.</p>
<p><span>Ben Zobrist</span>’s solo homer in the seventh inning provided the lone run for the Rays, who won the AL East to reach the postseason for the second time in their history.</p>
<p>Game 2 of this best-of-five series is set for Thursday back at Tropicana Field.</p>
<p>10/06 16:52:39 ET</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/6/1735120/lee-dominant-in-showdown-of-aces-as-rangers-take-1-0-series-leadClark Brooks2010-10-06T11:50:52-04:002010-10-06T11:50:52-04:00MLB Playoffs ALDS Rays-Rangers: Blogs & Media
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<p>As you know, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays Blog is <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, but you can get comprehensive coverage from a Texas point of view with the Rangers blog -- <a href="http://www.lonestarball.com/"><u><font color="#800080">Lone Star Ball</font></u></a>. Also take a look at <a href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth</a>, who has a very good overall <a href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2010/10/4/1728790/the-alds-preview">preview of the Rays-Rangers series</a> - I highly recommend it. </p>
<p>You can also follow the series action from across the SB Nation Network with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/65678/pregame">Rays/Rangers Game Coverage</a>, and follow all of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2010-mlb-playoffs">MLB Playoffs on SB Nation</a>.</p>
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<h3>Current Series</h3>
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<h4>3 game series vs Rangers @ Tropicana Field</h4>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> <span class="blog-hover-link" id="blog_icon_998238795"><a href="http://www.lonestarball.com/"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/images/icons/red-star.v2202714.png" class="sbnstar"></a><span class="blog-hover-menu" id="blog_icon_998238795_menu" style="display:none"><span class="img"><a href="http://www.lonestarball.com/"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/community_logos/366/lonestarball_m.gif" alt="Lonestarball_m"></a></span><span><a href="http://www.lonestarball.com/">Lone Star Ball</a></span></span></span> <br><span>@ <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> <span class="blog-hover-link" id="blog_icon_874213901"><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/images/icons/red-star.v2202714.png" class="sbnstar"></a><span class="blog-hover-menu" id="blog_icon_874213901_menu" style="display:none"><span class="img"><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/community_logos/2780/dray2-small.png" alt="Dray2-small"></a></span><span><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a></span></span></span> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Wednesday, Oct 6, 2010, 1:37 PM EDT</span><br>Tropicana Field</p>
<p class="pitchers"><span>Cliff Lee</span> vs <span>David Price</span></p>
<p class="weather">. Game time temperature around .</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<td class="td-first">Thu 10/07</td>
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<td class="td-first">Sat 10/09</td>
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<td class="td-last"><span>5:07 PM EDT</span></td>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/6/1734277/mlb-playoffs-alds-rays-rangers-blogs-mediaGregg Burrage2010-10-06T11:32:26-04:002010-10-06T11:32:26-04:00MLB Playoffs ALDS Rays-Rangers: Story Lines
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<p>(Sports Network) -- Here are three big storylines entering the series.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1) HEALTH CONCERNS</strong></p>
<p>These teams are so eerily similar that they each even have injury concerns surrounding their best offensive players.</p>
<p>Tampa third baseman Evan Longoria missed the final 10 games of the year with a strained left quadriceps, while Texas' MVP candidate Josh Hamilton sat out most of the month of September nursing fractured ribs.</p>
<p>The Rays' offense desperately missed Longoria in the final week, as the team was shutout three times and was almost blanked for a fourth time before scoring two in the ninth on the season's final day.</p>
<p>Longoria, who hit .294 with 22 home runs and a club-leading 104 RBI for the Rays, took batting practice on Monday, fielded ground balls, ran the bases and then went up against pitcher Mike Ekstrom in a simulated game. He is apparently ready to go, as he hit the first pitch off Ekstrom over the left- center-field fence</p>
<p>Hamilton, meanwhile, returned to the Rangers' lineup for the final weekend of the season and after a pair of terrific catches in center field his first game back, he belted a home run on Saturday.</p>
<p>The former first overall pick of the Rays back in 1999, Hamilton, who hit a major league-high .359 this season with 32 home runs and 100 RBI, was full-go during the Rangers' workout Monday afternoon, and he expects to be in the lineup for Game 1.</p>
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<p><strong>2) WHICH BULLPEN WILL BREAK FIRST?</strong></p>
<p>This series also features the two best bullpens in the American League, as the Rays ranked first in the Junior Circuit with a 3.33 ERA followed by the Rangers, who posted a 3.38 ERA from their relievers.</p>
<p>Both teams have excellent closers.</p>
<p>Rafael Soriano was brought in by the Rays to stabilize a bullpen that went with a closer by committee in 2009. Well, the move paid off as Soriano set a team record with 45 saves and pitched to a 1.73 ERA .</p>
<p>As good as Soriano was for the Rays, rookie right-hander Neftali Feliz proved to be just as effective for the Rangers, as he saved 40 games and pitched to a 2.73 ERA.</p>
<p>It could be a former Ranger, though, who has the biggest say in this series with regards to the bullpen. Right-hander Joaquin Benoit, who pitched the first eight years of his career with Texas, missed all of last season recovering from shoulder surgery and signed a minor-league contract this year with the Rays. He served as Soriano's main setup man and pitched to an AL-best 1.34 ERA.</p>
<p>Setting up Feliz, who should be the American League's Rookie of the Year, are righties Darren O'Day and Alexi Ogando, as well as left-handers Darren Oliver and Matt Harrison.</p>
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<p><strong>3) CHOOSE YOUR ACE: CLIFF LEE OR DAVID PRICE?</strong></p>
<p>Everything is telling me that this series is going five games.</p>
<p>I don't think the Rays would throw Game 1 starter David Price on short rest in a Game 4 with a potential elimination game at home looming. And considering the fact that Cliff Lee has never gone on three-days' rest, it is a safe bet that the two Game 1 starters would go again if there is a deciding game at Tropicana Field.</p>
<p>So who do you like?</p>
<p>Price established himself as a legit ace in this league this season, as he posted the best year ever by a Rays pitcher, going 19-6 with a 2.72 earned run average. Depending on how much emphasis Cy Young voters put on him pitching big games in September he may very well walk away with some hardware at the end of the season.</p>
<p>Lee, of course, was incredible for the Phillies in last year's playoffs, as he went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts. Philadelphia's two wins in the World Series against the Yankees were from Lee.</p>
<p>The 32-year-old hurler, though, hasn't been that effective since coming to the Rangers and was just 4-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 15 starts. He also lost four of his last six regular season decisions.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2010/10/6/1734273/mlb-playoffs-alds-rays-rangers-story-linesGregg Burrage