How Sweep It Is!!

I know it is only three regular season games.

I know it doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things so long as the Rangers make the playoffs.

It is still so sweet to sweep the Yankees. When your team doesn't have any playoff history to speak of, you celebrate when you can. Make no mistake about it, I was celebrating with each win of this weekend's series.

Let's take a brief look back, shall we?

Friday, 9/10/10

The Yankees and Rangers combined to use an A.L. record 19 pitchers. The Yankees were leading 5-4 in the 8th inning, when the one and only Joba Chamberlain came into the game. Nelson Cruz deposited Joba's first pitch into the left centerfield bleachers to tie the game. Fast forward to the bottom of the 13th. The game was still tied 5-5, when Nelson Cruz led off the inning with another first pitch bomb, this time depositing the walk-0ff home run into the Rangers bullpen in right center. I woke my wife up yelling about that one! Game 1 to the Rangers 6-5.

Saturday, 9/11/10

The Rangers were leading 5-3 in the 8th inning when the dreaded Arod hit a three-run double to put the Yankees on top 6-5. The Rangers came to bat in the bottom of the 9th against Mariano Rivera. Just a month earlier, the Rangers beat Rivera in the bottom of the 9th in this same setting. Rivera walked Vlad Guerrero and his pinch runner eventually scored on an Ian Kinsler double to tie the game. After loading the bases, Rivera hit Jeff Francouer with a pitch to drive in the winning run. Way to go Rivera! Game 2 to the Rangers 7-6.

Sunday, 9/12/10

Cliff Lee came back from his back injury and pitched like the Lee the Rangers traded for earlier this season. He no hit the Yankees for 5 1/3 innings and pitched brilliantly. Neftali Feliz did the mop up work in the 9th and the Rangers won 4-1. The highlight of the game was Julio Borbon laying down a beautiful bunt to first. Kinsler scored from 3rd and Borbon slid head first to get the infield single. Game 3 to the Rangers 4-1 and the SWEEP was COMPLETE!

The number one thing I think the Rangers get out of this is a real confidence boost. They know they can beat the Yankees and more importantly, they proved for the 2nd time that they CAN beat Mariano Rivera.