Giving Up Big Inning Hurts Rangers Again: Rays 6 Rangers 4

For the first four innings, Monday’s contest between the Rangers and Rays was definitely classified as a pitchers’ duel. Cliff Lee allowed one single through four while striking out six batters, half of them accounting for all the outs in the fourth inning, This year’s All-Star game starter, the Rays’ David Price, surrendered two hits and recorded five strikeouts through four innings.

But things began to get more complicated in the bottom of the fifth. Lee very, very, very uncharacteristically walked Carlos Pena – his first walk to a lefty all season and only his 10th overall. Did I mention it’s the middle of August! But walks hurt even the top guys. Pena would come around to score the first of two Rays’ runs in the frame, an inning in which the former Cy Young winner looked human. After the walk came a single, a sacrifice bunt and a two-RBI single,

While holding the Rays in check, the Rangers did their part to eventually take the lead with two runs in the seventh and another duce in the eighth. The Rangers take 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Then Rangers’ team and fans were reminded that even ace pitchers leading statistical categories are hittable and second, that the Rays a team of division-leading talent. Through simply making contact and some miscommunication from Joaquin Arias and Andres Blanco, four runs crossed the plate. The Rangers; lead evaporated into a victory for the Rays.

To be a playoff team, the No. 1 aspect of the game the Rangers need to work on is not allowing the big inning.