Rangers Top Detroit for 2nd Straight World Series Berth

Texas players celebrate on the field Saturday after beating the Detroit Tigers, 15-5, to clinch the team’s second consecutive American League pennant.

Texas is headed to the World Series for the second year in a row following a 15-5 blowout over the Detroit Tigers in Game 6 of the A.L. Championship Series on Saturday in Arlington.

The Rangers, who failed to win a single playoff series in their first 49 years of existence as a franchise, have now become the first team to repeat at American League champs since the Yankees did so in 2000-01. In addition, Texas is the first club to return to the World Series after losing the previous year since the 1991-92 Atlanta Braves.

Nelson Cruz was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player after hitting a postseason series-record six home runs while racking up 13 RBIs, also a new record for a single playoff series.

Cruz became the first player in history to belt two postseason home runs in the 11^th inning or later, a feat he accomplished within a matter of three days. His 11^th-inning grand slam helped the Rangers to a 7-3 win and a 2-0 series lead on Monday, and he followed that with a three-run homer in the top of the 11^th of Game 4 Wednesday at Comerica Park.

What’s more, Cruz’s six long balls doubled his career playoff total to 12 home runs, helping to break a tie he had held with former outfielder Juan Gonzalez for the most postseason homers in club history.

While the Texas starting pitchers left something to be desired (each of the team’s four ALCS victories came out of the bullpen), the offense helped make up for it by scoring an average of 6.5 runs per game against Detroit.

The Rangers will face off against the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, which begins Wednesday at Busch Stadium. St. Louis put together a late-season push to overcome the Atlanta Braves for the National League Wild Card before upsetting the favored Phillies and Brewers in the NLDS and NLCS, respectively.

Hamilton Playing at ‘About 50 Percent’

Outfielder Josh Hamilton acknowledged that a left groin injury has limited his production through the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs, as he combined to bat just .293 (12-for-41) with five runs scored and seven RBIs against the Rays and Tigers.

“I’m about 50 percent,” Hamilton said on ESPN Radio. “I’m going to give you 100 percent of my 50 percent.”

Hamilton, who had hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games to end the regular season, is unable to generate the usual lower-body power on his swing because of the injury, limiting him to seven singles and five doubles in the playoffs after hitting five home runs during last year’s postseason run.

Rangers Advance to World Series with 6-1 Victory

Texas players celebrate near the mound after Friday’s 6-1 win over New York, which gave the Rangers their first American League pennant.

The Rangers are headed to the World Series for the first time in franchise history following a 6-1 win over New York Friday in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

Right-hander Colby Lewis pitched eight quality innings to earn the victory for Texas, giving up one run on just three hits while striking out seven Yankee batters. Lewis was relieved in the ninth by right-hander Neftali Feliz, who recorded two strikeouts as part of a perfect inning to end the game.

Outfielder Josh Hamilton was named series MVP after hitting .350 (7-for-20) with four home runs, three stolen bases, six runs scored and seven RBIs. Hamilton also established a new ALCS record by drawing five intentional walks in the series, including three in Friday’s game alone.

Outfielder Nelson Cruz contributed a two-run home run off Yankees right-hander David Robertson in the fifth inning to give the Rangers a 5-1 lead. Meanwhile designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero picked up his first RBIs of the series with a run-scoring fielder’s choice in the first inning and a two-run double in the fifth.

Texas batted over 100 points better than the Yankees in the series (.304 to .201) while outscoring New York by a margin of 38 to 19. In addition, the Rangers stole nine bases to the Yankees’ two, and compiled 106 total bases in the League Championship Series, far and away more than any other team in the LCS.

The Rangers will now have a few days off before taking on the winner of the NLCS between Philadelphia and San Francisco in the World Series, which begins Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. Games 3 and 4 of the World Series are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.