Kerr Shows His Claw, Part 3
Writing about a win must be more fun than chronicling a loss, because 13-year-old Jack Kerr had much more to say about the first World Series victory in Rangers history than he did about either Game 1 or Game 2.
Rangers Still Alive
By JACK KERR
The air was electric in North Texas as the Rangers hosted their first World Series game. The Rangers came in knowing a win was desperately needed. They gave the ball to their postseason stud, Colby Lewis, who beat the Yankees in Games 2 and 6 of the American League Championship Series. Pitching for the Giants with a stingy earned run average was Jonathan Sanchez.
The Rangers knew what they need to do from the beginning. Mitch Moreland set the tone in the second inning with a two-out, three-run shot into right field. This hit gave the Rangers, including Lewis, a huge boost. Lewis pitched lights-out with a three-run lead until Josh Hamilton extended the lead to four runs, hitting a towering solo shot into the Arlington night, in the fifth inning. The Giants then brought out their late-inning tricks when Cody Ross homered in the seventh as did Andres Torres in the eighth, making the score 4-2.
Lewis was in a little trouble after the homer by Torres. Lewis hit a batter on an 0-2 count with two outs. Lewis would then be taken out after a magnificent performance of 7 2/3 innings. Darren O’ Day would replace Lewis. O’ Day did his job, getting a grounder to Elvis Andrus, which he fired to first, to end the top of the eighth inning. With two outs in the ninth, Neftali Feliz rocketed a 99 mph fastball right by Juan Uribe to give the Rangers their first ever World Series victory.
Colby Lewis does it again, winning a another huge postseason game. The bats of the Rangers looked way different then the ones we saw in San Francisco, hitting two bombs, which couldn’t be found in San Francisco at all. The Rangers knew what was at stake and delivered for the thousands of fans at the Ballpark.
Tomorrow’s game will help a lot of causes. Either the Giants get a step closer to a ring ceremony, or the Rangers even the series and give the ball to their ace, Cliff Lee, in Game 5. Tommy Hunter goes to the mound looking to even the series vs. Madison Bumgarner, who has pitched 12 innings with an earned run average of more than 3.00 this postseason. The Rangers need a win today to really set up Cliff Lee to give them a series lead. If they win today, the Rangers look to be in business with Lee and Wilson, and possibly Lewis.
The Rangers need a lot of support today in a game that could decide the series. Remember to wear Rangers apparel and root your Rangers on tonight. Go Rangers!
