C.J. Wilson pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Michael Young slammed a three-run home run as the visiting Texas Rangers took control of the American League Division Series with a 6-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.
Ian Kinsler had a solo homer and RBI single as Texas grabbed a commanding 2-0 lead over the AL East champions.
The Rangers can close out Tampa Bay when the best-of-5 series shifts to Texas for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Young's three-run shot in the fifth inning off Rays reliever Chad Qualls gave Texas a 5-0 lead. The decisive blast came one pitch after Qualls thought he had fanned Young on a check swing, leading to the ejection of Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.
Wilson (1-0) allowed two hits - one to the first batter of the game - while striking out seven and walking two.
Tampa Bay finally threatened by loading the bases in the seventh, but relievers Darren O'Day and Darren Oliver retired one batter apiece to escape the jam.
Rays starter James Shields (0-1) was charged with four runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and hit a pair of batters.
Texas | Tampa Bay | |
C.J. Wilson | Player | James Shields |
Win | W/L | Loss |
6.1 | IP | 4.1 |
7 | Strikeouts | 2 |
2 | Hits | 4 |
0.00 | ERA | 8.31 |
Texas | Tampa Bay | |
Ian Kinsler | Player | Jason Bartlett |
2 | Hits | 1 |
2 | RBI | 0 |
1 | HR | 0 |
5 | TB | 1 |
.500 | Avg | .333 |