Rangers win ALCS; Giants-Phillies Game 6 upcoming

The Texas Rangers defeated the New York Yankees 6-1 tonight to win the ALCS 4 games to 2. The clinched in front of a rabid home crowd to earn their first pennant and World Series berth in team history. Colby Lewis was really good for 8 innings of pitching and Vladimir Guerrero and Nelson Cruz both had big hits in a key 4-run fifth inning for the Rangers. Josh Hamilton took home the ALCS MVP award after a really good series. The Yankees walked him intentionally three different times tonight. The Rangers' lineup is flat out dangerous and their starting pitching has looked quite good as well. The bullpen has been a little shaky, but they did get a great outing from Derek Holland in Game 4 and Neftali Feliz has been dynamic as the closer. They will be a tough out for whoever plays them in what I think will be a long World Series.

I'm really, really happy that the Yankees have lost and won't win the World Series this year. As I've said before, to me they represent everything is wrong with baseball. They have an exorbitant payroll that reaches far beyond even what other large market teams are capable of and are basically poachers of players that other teams have developed. It's infuriating. They think they can just get whoever they want and essentially buy championships. So I was very happy to see all the shots of the Yankees and their long faces late in the game as the inevitability of losing this game sunk in on them. Good stuff.

The San Francisco Giants take on the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the NLCS Saturday night in Philadelphia at 5:57 p.m. MT on FOX. The Giants lead the series 3 games to 2.The Giants start Jonathan Sanchez and the Phillies go with Roy Oswalt. Despite the loss at home in Game 5, I still think the Giants have a really good chance to take home the pennant. Sanchez is a really confident pitcher and has had really good stuff and control lately. The offense has been able to scratch across a few runs and even scored the game-winner against Oswalt when he came on in relief during Game 4. If I had to pick I would say the Giants win this game and move on to the World Series. I hope I am right, I think it will be a good, close game. Go Giants!

Phillies even NLCS at 1-1

The San Francisco Giants lost Game 2 of the NLCS last night to the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 6-1. Roy Oswalt was dominant through eight innings, allowing only one run on a homer by -- who else -- Cody Ross. Jonathan Sanchez was pretty solid for the most part, he did walk three in the first inning but the third walk was granted on a missed call. The Phils were able to get a run when Oswalt ignored a stop sign from his third base coach and Aubrey Huff cut off an on target throw from center fielder Andres Torres that likely would have had Oswalt out by at least ten feet. Huff said he saw the stop sign and his instincts were to cut the ball off. It was a tough play, but the Giants still likely would have lost the game anyway.

After an intentional walk to Jayson Werth in the 7th, Jimmy Rollins hit a bases clearing double to bust the game open and make it 6-1. Even with Rollins struggling lately, he's not the guy you want up there in that situation if you're the Giants. J-Roll loves the big stage and has a knack for coming through in the clutch -- it's what he does. I wasn't surprised to see the big hit there that just missed being a grand slam.

Cody Ross hit his 3rd home run of the series in just two games. He is really dialed in right now and I hope he stays that way when the series shifts to northern California.

You can't understate what a big performance this was from Oswalt to even the series at 1-1 heading back to San Francisco. He was dynamic and seemed determined to get the win. Game 3 is tomorrow afternoon at 2:19 p.m. MT on FOX. The ALCS resumes tonight with it being imperative for the Rangers to get a win with their ace Cliff Lee on the mound. Here's the details:

Game 3 -- Texas Rangers (Lee) at New York Yankees (Pettite), 6:07 p.m. MT (TBS, Series tied 1-1)