Rangers' wild Game 2 victory could be sign of things to come
ReutersThe comeback in Game 2 by Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers could be a sign that this wild and unpredictable series is going to be a classic.
OPINION
By Tony DeMarco
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 2:25 a.m. ET Oct. 21, 2011
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If this thing doesn't return to Busch Stadium, and the Texas Rangers win their first-ever world championship on their own turf, then probably so.
But if the St. Louis Cardinals rebound from the disappointment of being on the verge of a 2-0 series lead, only to suffer a series-tying 2-1 loss, then the Rangers' two-run, top of the ninth will be just a drama-filled footnote.
And maybe still, a classic Series that nobody can predict is just beginning to unfold ? and the warning jokingly issued by Rangers manager Ron Washington will prove to be sage advice: "I've got to say to those of you with bad hearts, watch yourself.''
For now, we're left with all of this:
Top of the ninth: Previously nearly-unhittable closer Jason Motte on to protect a 1-0 lead against top of the order of a Rangers lineup that had been limited to three hits and frustrated by Jaime Garcia and two other relievers.
But Ian Kinsler got a blooper to fall in front of center fielder John Jay, who was playing deep in the 'no-doubles' outfield defense that seemed more like a 'too-many-singles' defense instead.
"They caught a break with a blooper,'' Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "But after that, they did some good classic baseball stuff to make two guys come around to score.''
Beginning with Kinsler swiping second base ? barely ? as Elvis Andrus squared around to bunt but pulled back on a top-of-the-strike zone fastball from Motte. You see, for all their power ? Josh Hamilton, last year's AL MVP, finished fifth on the team with 25 homers, for heaven's sake ? the Rangers use speed, aggressive base-running and run-manufacturing to kick-start their offense. That's the way Washington learned to play the game, and that's how he makes his team play.Kinsler has a green light, and swiped the bag on Motte, whom Washington said, 'isn't very quick to the plate.' Kinsler wouldn't say exactly what ? 'I'm not going to tell you that' ? but did admit to finding something he could take advantage of in Motte's delivery.
Kinsler is a stolen-base machine, successfully swiping 136 of 158 career attempts (86 percent), and therefore has a green light to run. But Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina throws out 44 percent of base-stealers and arguably has the game's best throwing arm behind the plate. How much was Kinsler safe by this time?
"Enough,'' he said with a smile. "I mean, my hand barely got in there. It took everything I had. Yadier made an unbelievable throw ? quick, on the money ? and I was just able to get my hand in there.''
Washington admits that he was playing it more conservatively; he called for the sacrifice bunt from Andrus, who didn't execute.
"I wanted to get the runner over to second base and give the middle of the order a chance to at least get us a run, and stay in the ballgame,'' Washington said. "But it all worked out.''
But with Kinsler on second, Washington wanted Andrus to hit the ball to the right side, and his All-Star shortstop did ? a single right-center that couldn't score the ultra-aggressive Kinsler. But the throw from defensive replacement Skip Schumaker was mishandled by cutoff man Albert Pujols just long enough to Andrus to streak to second base.
Andrus already had made two run-saving plays in the fourth and fifth innings ? the latter a spectacular up-the-middle diving stop/glove flip to Kinsler for a force out at second. This time, it was legs that made the difference.
"I was already 3-4 steps around first,'' Andrus said. "I took my chance when the ball bounced away. If (Pujols) catches it, I come back to first. You have to be ready for anything. A lot of things were happening in a short period there.''So instead of a sacrifice bunt that would have put Kinsler on second with one out, there was a stolen base, a single and a base advance on an error, setting up second and third with no outs. No wonder Washington later said, "you know, there was good karma in our dugout the whole night.''
And that brought up Hamilton, whose inclusion in the lineup was the subject of pre-game questioning due to an injured groin that has left him far below 100 percent. Washington denied that moving Hamilton from his usual spot in center to left field was a concession to Hamilton's injury, and said, "I know my player better than you guys.''
Hamilton faced a handful of questions afterward, saying in a friendly tone: "I'm tired of talking about it. I'm going to hurt until the season is over. It's a non-issue as far as talking about it. So stop asking me.''
And when asked specifically if he had taken a painkilling injection, his response was, "I plead the fifth.''
La Russa's decisions were pitch to Hamilton with first base open? Walk him to load the bases? And which pitcher to use ? Motte or left-handed specialist Arthur Rhodes?
"I don't think walking him there would have made it easier for us,'' La Russa said. "I think it would have made it harder. We had a chance to do something with Hamilton and Rhodes ? maybe they score a run, but don't advance the other guy. But (Hamilton) did a good job.''
Hamilton hit a first-pitch slider from Rhodes for a game-tying sacrifice fly to right field to score Kinsler, and Andrus also advanced to third. Hamilton said he thought La Russa would leave Motte in to face him.
"(Motte is) a guy who throws close to 100 (mph), rather than bring in Rhodesy, who throws 89. I don't get paid to make those decisions, and I'm glad he made that one.''
Then Michael Young's sacrifice fly to center off Lance Lynn brought in Andrus with the go-ahead run ? making up for Young not being able to make a play on Nick Punto's hard smash that would have ended the bottom of the seventh. Instead, that half inning was extended for pinch-hitter Allen Craig, who singled in the game's first run off reliever Alexi Ogando in a repeat matchup from Game 1.
"You've got to keep fighting, and we needed to get one here (in St. Louis),'' Washington said. "We're equal (with the Cardinals) in the way we play the game. It's certainly going to be a lot of fun the rest of the way.''
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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44985381/ns/sports-baseball/
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