The Tampa Bay Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with only one out. If only Tampa Bay could have scored a couple of runs in their first at-bat, the outcome may have been different. Instead, Lee wiggled out of the inning unscathed by striking out both Carlos Pena and Rocco Baldelli.
It was all Texas from there.
An RBI double from Jeff Francoeur and an RBI single from Bengie Molina in the second accounted for two runs off Rays starter David Price. Homers by Nelson Cruz in the top of the third and a Molina blast in the fourth made the score 4-0 after only four innings. Texas would add another run off of a double by Vladamir Guerrero in the fifth. 5-0 Rangers.
The Rays wouldn't get to Lee until the bottom of the seventh. Ben Zobrist accounted for Tampa Bay's first run with a solo shot off Lee.
Lee was masterful after a shaky first inning. |
Sure the Rangers supplied him with a large lead, but after that first inning, Lee gave no indication that the Rays would threaten. And he kept the big bats in Tampa's lineup well in check. While facing Lee, Carlos Pena struck out three times. B. J. Upton could not get on base. For seven innings, Lee surrendered only five hits and the one run while striking out 10 Rays. Overall, 13 Rays were rung up via the strikeout.
Price wasn't as fortunate as Lee. After the Rays one big chance fell massively short, all the momentum swung the way of Texas. The Rangers grabbed that momentum and rolled to a 5-1 win.
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