All smiles The Rangers pitcher threw eight innings of two-hit, no-run ball, striking out 14 New York Yankees in a 8-0 win Monday night. The Rangers now lead the ALCS 2-1. Two games away from a World Series berth.
I'd like to say that the Texas Rangers have never seen an animal like Lee, but that's preposterous. The Rangers haven't even played against someone as locked in as Lee is.
Major League Baseball hasn't seen a guy like Lee in most of our lifetimes. This is Sandy Koufax, Whitey Ford and Bob Gibson level of dominance where he can not be hit. It may not last forever, but it doesn't matter in the least. Lee did it tonight. He did it and that's all we really need for now.
Combine Lee's brilliant performance with two gigantic, enormous hits from Josh Hamilton, clutch shots from Vlad Guerrero, Nellie Cruz, Bengie Molina and Mitch Moreland brought on an ass whipping the Yankees have never seen. Then there was a cool-as-a-cucumber ninth from Neftali Feliz.
Lee tied Gibson for three straight post-season games with double-digit strikeouts. The Rangers have outplayed the Yankees in 26 of 27 innings. They're a Darren Oliver induced double play from being 3-0.
They're not afraid. I'm not afraid. Bring on game 4.
