The Texas Rangers clinched a berth to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2011 after completing a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night.
Now, they can get some much-needed rest while waiting for the Twins and Astros to finish their battle.
“The way our guys have played has been unbelievable,” said Rangers Third Base coach Tony Beasley who has been with the team for the last eight years.
“We performed day-in and day-out. We had a tough stretch but we answered the bell against two really tough teams. We do not know where we are going next but we are going to stay prepared and enjoy the moment.”
Beasley, a cancer survivor, who grew up in the DMV area and was drafted by the O’s in the 19th round of the 1989 draft, has experienced the highs and lows of baseball with Texas, a franchise who has made the postseason just three times since 2012.
Beasley was waving runners around home all series as the team combined to score 21 runs in three games including seven in the Game 3, the first home playoff game in Arlington since 2016.
The scoring began with a home run by Semiens’ half a billion-dollar double play partner Corey Seager in the first inning.
Then, after a long ten pitch at bat by Nathaniel Lowe began the second, the Rangers would tag starter Dean Kremer for five earned runs, capped off by a three-run bomb from Adolis Garcia.
In that inning, Semien would double and finished the game 1-for-4 with a run scored. After a 2-for-22 stretch at the plate coming into Game 2, Semien has three hits in his last two games.
The Rangers lineup has turned into the modern-day murderer’s row but has still yet to have a vintage game from their leadoff-hitting captain during this run. Him getting on base means more runners on for guys like Seager and Garcia and adds instant pressure to opposing pitching staffs.
The American League Championship Series will begin Sunday night in either the freezing tundra that is Minnesota or “The Juicebox” in Houston, Texas.
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