Rangers Reach 1st World Series

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers!!!

They won their first American League pennant defeating the New York Yankees 6-1 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

Colby Lewis pitched eight sensational innings, giving up only one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. It was Lewis' second win of the series. Vladimir Guerrero drove in three runs and Nelson Cruz put it away with a two run homerun.

It was fitting that ex-Ranger Alex Rodriguez made the final out when Rangers closer Neftali Feliz struck him out looking.

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who is favored to win the AL MVP, was named the ALCS MVP. He went 7 for 20 (.350) with 4 homeruns and 7 RBI. The Yankees eventually stopped pitching to Hamilton intentionally walking him five times including thrice in Game 6.

The Rangers, of course, blew a five run lead in the eighth inning of Game 1. That would have crushed a lesser team. But any team that can jettison both the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays is certainly not lacking for anything.

The Rangers will face the winner of the NLCS. The San Francisco Giants have a three games to two lead against the Philadelphia Phillies. The NLCS resumes tomorrow night in Philadelphia. Will the Phillies win a third straight NL pennant? Or will we have the ultimate Red State-Blue State Fall Classic?

I am happy for Rangers co-owner Nolan Ryan. I'll take him over Mark Cuban any day of the week. I'm also happy for Michael Young who played 11 seasons for the Rangers before playing in his first post-season game. I'm equally happy for Rangers skipper Ron Washington who has spent four decades in the game as a player, coach and now a manager and has finally reached a World Series.

The Dallas Cowboys now find themselves in the unusual position of playing second fiddle to the Rangers. It's antler and claw season.