ARLINGTON, Texas — Their Texas-sized wait is over. The Rangers are going to the World Series. And they got there with a victory over their old nemesis, the defending champion New York Yankees.
Vladimir Guerrero drove in three runs before Nelson Cruz hit a towering, two-run homer and the Rangers beat New York 6-1 on Friday night in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series, the biggest victory in the franchise’s 50 seasons.
Colby Lewis dominated over eight innings for his second victory of the series and Josh Hamilton earned the ALCS MVP award. And in a state where most sports fans gear up for fall weekends by watching high school football, the Rangers gave a new meaning to “Friday Night Lights.”
“The World Series is coming to Texas,” said Michael Young, the longest-tenured Ranger in his 10th season. “These fans have waited longer than we have. I know how bad we wanted it and they must have wanted it more.
“Totally worth the wait, totally.”
When Alex Rodriguez took a called third strike to end the game, fireworks exploded in the sky, confetti filled the air and the Rangers embraced each other near the mound.
Rangers icon Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher who is the team president and co-owner, embraced his wife in the front row before going on the field to join the team.
“Our fans have waited a long time, this organization has waited a long time,” Ryan said. “This team coming out of spring training was on a mission.”
Hamilton, who homered four times in the series, admitted he shed a tear in center field right before the final out.
“We are here as a group. This group is here because they don’t know how to fail,” Hamilton said.
Cliff Lee was waiting if needed by the Rangers for a deciding Game 7 against the Yankees. Now the ace left-hander can rest up for Game 1 of the World Series, on Wednesday night in either San Francisco or Philadelphia. The Giants lead the NLCS 3-2, with Game 6 tonight in Philadelphia.
The Rangers, who had never won a postseason series or a home playoff game before this year, dispatched the $200 million-plus Bronx Bombers with little drama — especially after a four-run outburst in the fifth inning snapped a 1-all tie.
And that makes it even more satisfying for the Rangers and their fans, since New York knocked Texas out of the playoffs in each of the club’s three previous appearances. Derek Jeter is among several players remaining from those teams in the late 1990s and Rodriguez is among several former Rangers now wearing pinstripes.
The Rangers outplayed the Yankees in every facet. Along with their slugging, they showed off something Ryan has brought them — a culture where pitching rules, and starters expect to go deep into games.
“We didn’t accomplish what we set out to. And as I told my guys, this hurts,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I’ve been through it as a player. I’ve been through it as a coach and now I’ve been through it as a manager. It’s not a lot of fun watching other teams celebrate. They beat us. They outhit us, they outpitched us, outplayed us and they beat us.”
Added Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher, “Sometimes you run into a buzzsaw.”
Star of the game
Colby Lewis: The Rangers right-hander, who pitched in the Japan Central League the previous two seasons, dominated over eight innings for his second victory of the series.
Key moment
After Vladimir Guerrero’s two-run double broke a 1-1 tie against Phil Hughes, Nelson Cruz followed with a towering, two-run homer off David Robertson as the Rangers broke it open with a four-run fifth inning.
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