SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Bumbling on the bases and fumbling on the field did in the Texas Rangers.
Their manager didn’t help, either.
That’s what a first World Series appearance will do to a team.
In Wednesday night’s dismal 11-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants, Texas resembled the woeful Washington Senators of its expansion roots far more than the exciting team that won a surprise American League pennant.
Cliff Lee looked nothing like the ace who had gone 7-0 in eight postseason starts. Meantime, Texas became the first team in six years to make four errors in a World Series game.
Ian Kinsler got tagged out when he took a turn past first base on a ball he thought rolled away but didn’t.
Michael Young let Edgar Renteria’s leadoff grounder to third kick off his glove for an error that led to San Francisco tying the score in a two-run third inning.
Shortstop Elvis Andrus misplayed Tim Lincecum’s grounder in the fifth, and Vladimir Guerrero _ inserted into right field in the NL park rather than his usual designated hitter slot _ let two hits skip by for errors in a three-run eighth.
By the time Lee labored through 32 pitches in the third it was clear he wasn’t nearly the unhittable, dominant pitcher who went 3-0 in the AL playoffs against Tampa Bay and the Yankees. The one who allowed two runs in 24 innings.
Maybe manager Ron Washington couldn’t believe his eyes, either. His bullpen was empty until the Giants were ahead 3-2 on consecutive doubles by Andres Torres and Freddy Sanchez off the fading Lee. Not until Lee went to a full count on Pat Burrell did Darren O’Day sprint down the right-field line to the bullpen. Burrell walked and Cody Ross and Aubrey Huff hit RBI singles that made it 5-2.
With O’Day hardly having time to warm up, Juan Uribe homered on the side-armer’s third pitch, sending it into the left-field bleachers for an 8-2 lead.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.