Rangers Stay on Track; Beat Royals 2-1

Verlander and Co. can't get it done in rain-delayed game

(AP) - A few minutes past midnight, the Texas Rangers had one more victory over Justin Verlander—and the Detroit Tigers lost yet another wet playoff opener started by their ace. "If anywhere in the country has a drought, just bring me in and I'll fix that," Verlander said after the Rangers beat him 3-2 last night in Game 1 of the AL championship series opener. Before the game was interrupted twice by rain for a total of 1 hour, 50 minutes in the top of the fifth inning, Nelson Cruz broke a postseason slump with a home run and the defending AL champions scored all of their runs off Verlander. More»

First Series win in franchise history

(NEWSER) - The Rangers last night showed San Francisco that even their scores are bigger in Texas, notching their first victory in the World Series 4-2, after taking two beatings in California. Egged on by Rangers' royalty George W Bush and Nolan Ryan, the AP reports, Texas quickly slid into its comfort zone. "We wanted to get back home," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "We knew we could finally put a good game together, and we did." More»

(NEWSER) - Prince Fielder of Milwaukee captured tonight's All-Star Home Run Derby, scoring a 6-5 victory in the final round over Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, a former Brewers prospect. "I was just happy I was able to put on a show," said the first baseman, who did just that with the night's longest shot, a 503-foot drive that left the Busch Stadium crowd dazzled. More»

(NEWSER) - For the first time ever, four Jewish players could make baseball’s All-Star Game, Bloomberg reports. Boston’s Kevin Youkilis and Texas’ Ian Kinsler each lead the voting at their positions, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun is second in voting among National League outfielders, and Colorado pitcher Jason Marquis has the most wins in his league. “We’re in a glory time for Jewish baseball players,” says Howard Megdal, author of The Baseball Talmud. More»

(NEWSER) - Kansas City’s Zack Greinke has been, without question, the best pitcher of this young baseball season. The 25-year-old didn’t allow a run in his first three starts; his 0.50 ERA and 5-0 record are both major-league bests. After losing most of the 2006 season to his fight with depression and social anxiety, he tells Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, “It’s been all right.” More»