ARLINGTON, Texas — Finally. And finally.
The Texas Rangers vanquished two ghosts from their playoff past Saturday, grabbing their first home victory in 50 years as a franchise and ending a 10-game October losing streak to the New York Yankees.
Not only did they win convincingly, 7-2, but if they really want to think big, Game 2 winners in the American League Championship Series have advanced to the World Series nine of the last 11 years.
All of this after Friday’s emotionally draining loss that put them in a hole.
“It was no more unusual in the clubhouse,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said of the loss. “We talked about the positives and our guys have always bounced back. We have guys who make mistakes, but they get over it.”
At least the Rangers will have time to digest it all.
The ALCS resumes Monday night in Yankee Stadium with Rangers ace Cliff Lee, who is 6-0 in the postseason, starting against all-time postseason victories leader Andy Pettitte (19), providing just more of that Yankees mystique.
But none of that supposed Yankees playoff magic was on display Saturday as they looked like just another team, leaving 12 runners on base, their 2-3-4 hitters combining to go 1-for-11 and starter Phil Hughes exiting in the fifth inning.
In fact, Yankee starters CC Sabathia and Hughes have given up 12 runs in only eight innings.
“I don’t ever get too involved in snapshot pictures because that can be dangerous,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I believe in our guys.”
Just as they had Friday, the Rangers took a first-inning lead, only this time their bullpen held on for starter Colby Lewis.
Rangers relievers allowed five runs to score Friday, but five of them held the Yankees scoreless Saturday.
“That’s what they’ve been doing all year,” Washington said. “That’s what got us to this point. We took a licking and came back.”
Rangers leadoff hitter Elvis Andrus “stole” a run in the first inning. Not only did he beat out an infield single, but he got to second on a Hughes wild pitch, stole third and swiped home on a double steal with Josh Hamilton.
The Rangers tacked on two more in the second and third innings — using seven hits to do it — and that was enough.
Now it could be time for the Yankees to panic, even though they already have won one game on the road, which they must do if they want to repeat as World Series champions.
Many questions to Girardi on Saturday were about dumping Game 4 starter A.J. Burnett in favor of Sabathia.
“I’m not worried about Game 4,” Girardi said. “I’m worried about Game 3. If we worry about Game 4 before Game 3, we’ll get in trouble.”
Star of the game
David Murphy: The Rangers’ left fielder homered and had an RBI double. Murphy homered off the facade of the second deck of seats in the second inning for a 2-0 lead. An inning later, he and Bengie Molina had consecutive RBI doubles to make it 5-0.
Key moment
Elvis Andrus got the Rangers off to a running start, scoring on the front end of a double steal that put Texas up 1-0 in the first inning.
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