C.Lewis vs Saunders
Rangers 6, Orioles 4
All tied up a 4 apiece, after 6 innings of play, the Rangers took control with 2 runs in the top of the 7th off off reliever Kevin Gregg. Back to back jacks by Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton did the damage. For Hamilton that was his 2nd homer on a day where he'd go 3 for 5 with 3 RBI. Nathan would come in from the pen to get the final 2 outs in the 9th for the save. Texas would log 17 hits and live 8 runners on base, which is why they won by just 2. Credit Baltimore's five pitchers on the day for getting a lot of big outs to keep it close.
Rangers lead series 1-0
GAME 2 - Camden Yards
M.Harrison vs Hammel
Orioles 4, Rangers 0
Credit Jason Hammel for pitching 7 shutout innings and fanning 10 before handing it off to O'Day and Johnson, who were perfect out of the pen. The O's broke the ice with a solo shot by Nick Markakis to lead off the home half of the 4th. RBI singles by Pearce and Quintanilla gave Hammel a 3-0 lead. Adams Jones scored on Pearce's ground out in the sixth to make it 4-0, which is how it finished.
Series tied 1-1
GAME 3 - Rangers Ballpark
Chen vs Darvish
Rangers 3, Orioles 2
An impressive pitcher's duel between Wei-Yen Chen and Yu Darvish saw the Rangers up 3-0 heading into the 9th. Darvish, who fanned 8 and gave up just 3 hits in 7 innings of work put his fate in the hands of the pen. Both Alexi Ogando and Joe Nathan had their difficulties in the top of the 9th with 2 out. Markakis led off with a single, but Jones and Davis both went down swinging for 2 outs. Future HOF'er Jim Thome lined a single as a pinch hitter, which was followed by an RBI single from Wilson Betemit. McLouth walked to load the bases and Hall walked to force in a run. It all ended when Nolan Reimold lifted one that Snyder easily tracked down on the warning track in left.
GAME 4 - Rangers Ballpark
Tilman vs Feliz
Orioles 3, Rangers 2
Same score as the previous game, just a different result. Tied up a 2-2 and heading into the 9th the O's needed a run desperately to stave off elimination. With the bases loaded and 2 out Nolan Reimold stepped up to the plate with a chance to make up for making the final out the day before. In a classic Hollywood script he would have hit a homer that barely cleared the outfield fence. In reality he took ball four and the go ahead run crossed the plate. Still a run is a run. Oriole closer Jim Johnson didn't make the bottom of the 9th easy on Oriole fans watching at home on MASN. Michael Young led off with a single, but was quickly erased on a DP. Mike Napoli followed with a walk. Moreland had a 2-1 hitters count and hit a one hop bullet that luckily wound up in the glove of shortstop Hardy's glove for the game ending force play at second.
Series tied 2-2
GAME 5 - Camden Yards
C.Lewis vs S.Johnson
Rangers 10, Orioles 4
No classic game 5 nail biter here. Texas' offense shifted into high gear and scored 10 runs on 13 hits. Oriole starter Steve Johnson couldn't even make it out of the 2nd inning after giving up 4 runs. His replacement, Gonzalez, didn't fare much better giving up 4 runs himself. Adrian Beltre (3-5) set the tone with a 3 run shot in the first. Catcher Mike Napoli had 3 hits and 3 runs scored while batting out of the 8 hole.
Rangers win series 3-2
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