Written by Jeff Wilson at Fort Worth Star Telegram.com
The tarp was placed over the infield at Globe Life Park on Thursday night in anticipation of morning rain showers Friday ahead of Game 2 of the American League Division Series.
If the Rangers have any luck, the rain will wash away the Game 1 disaster.
The Rangers know they must move on from the 10-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, who have beaten the Rangers in four straight ALDS games. The Rangers, meanwhile, are 1-10 all time in ALDS home games.
Maybe they should suggest moving the series to Toronto post haste.
Here’s some Rangers Reaction from Thursday’s Game 1 loss.
Hamels walked Ezequiel Carrera with one out, only to easily get Devon Travis for the second out.
What followed didn’t seem to be a remote possibility.
The next five Blue Jays reached, and four of them plus Carrera scored as Toronto put away Game 1 and Hamels early.
The thing is, Hamels was close to getting away without any runs. Adrian Beltre couldn’t handle a Josh Donaldson liner, saying he briefly lost the ball in a white shirt in the stands, and it went for an RBI double. If he catches it, the Blue Jays don’t score. If Hamels doesn’t try to snag Edwin Encarnacion’s weak liner, it turns into an inning-ending groundout with the Rangers down only 1-0.
It’s hard to blame Beltre for being unable to snare an absolute rocket. Hamels didn’t do himself any favors the rest of the inning.
Granted, Hamels wasn’t great in September, though he was better in his final two starts. He has been a terrific postseason pitcher, though the Blue Jays handed him the worst playoff loss of his career.
