Rangers Claim AL West Title: Rangers 4 Athletics 3

The division race is complete as the Rangers officially grabbed the AL West crown Saturday afternoon – a championship the team captured for the first time in 11 years. The Rangers celebrated their 4-3 victory over the Athletics, the club they mathematically eliminated on the field and in the visiting clubhouse in Oakland.

Michael Young’s homer to tie the game in the third was not a surprise given a Ranger win would stamp his ticket to the postseason for the first time in his Big League career. Needless to say, he hasn’t been any closer. Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler scored runs with their speed. Expected as well.

But, I am not the only Rangers fan who would not has picked Jorge Cantu to come up with two critical hits to knock off the Athletics. The man was in the depths of nearly 80 at-bats, a new Ranger record, without an RBI. But his lack of offensive contributions that lasted two months ended in the sixth inning when he doubled home Kinsler from third with one out. That one out came after Jeff Francoeur fought through a long at-bat with starter Gio Gonzalez to foul out, but the vast expanses of foul territory a stadium that also hosts NFL football provides allowed Kinsler to advance and set up Cantu’s go-ahead opportunity. Andrus’s legs would get the Rangers another run courtesy of a stolen base and a wild pitch.

Shortstop Cliff Pennington staled any feelings that the game was decided with his two-out two-run homer in the seventh off Clay Rapada, who had not given up a hit or run in nine previous appearances after a September call-up.

Following a double play in the eighth, Cantu smashed a 3-2 pitch from Michael Wuertz over the wall in left center field to give the Rangers their division championship. He showed fans he can play in a big way that won’t be forgotten for a long time.

Credit Darren O’Day with the win. In the eighth, Neftali Feliz notched his 38th save, a new MLB rookie record after getting the last four outs.

CLUBHOUSE REACTION TO THE CLINCH (with beer and champagne going everywhere):
*Quotations courtesy of FSSW interviews

“It burns. It’s the best feeling of my career. We played hard all year long for it to come to this now. We’re one step down, three to go. I’m still feeling it. I’ve been watching the postseason on TV for years now, and I get my first crack
at it.” – Michael Young on his first division title and playoff appearance

“I love it when my eyes are burning. That means we’re doing something right at the end of the season.” – Darren Oliver, also a member of the 1996 playoff team

“They’ve got skills, talent and they’ve got heart. I love that; that’s why probably I fit in.” – Bengie Molina, catcher