World Series
Game 5
San Francisco Giants vs Texas Rangers @ Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Sportsnet, 7:57 PM ET
Giants Lead 3-1
Giants: LP Tim Lincecum (1-0, 6.35 ERA in World Series)
Rangers: LP Cliff Lee (0-1, 11.57 ERA in World Series)
Reason to Watch: There may not be much in Texas to root for after tonight, with the Cowboys all but declaring their season was over yesterday when they were dismantled by the Jacksonville Jaguars and sliding into a 1-6 hole, the University of Texas is no longer in the Top 25, and the Rangers sit on the brink of elimination.
Rangers fans can only hope their team embodies the toughness of team president Nolan Ryan tonight. While it’s unfortunate that Ryan cannot come back for one night like Simon & Garfunkel, Ryan seems to have been proactive in this regard picking up the best playoff pitcher in the last two years in Cliff Lee.
Everyone was expecting Game 1 to be a pitching match-up for the ages, with the question being not how many runs would be scored, but rather how many hits will be allowed. Of course, that was all proven to be just talk when the Rangers jumped on an early 2-0 lead, then the Giants pounded Lee for eight runs over five innings.
With expectations toned down for tonight’s affair it’s interesting to note that Lee and Lincecum have almost thrown the exact same number of innings this season with Lee (240.3) and Lincecum (241.1), so fatigue shouldn’t be an issue but it is November.
A couple of veteran journeymen have been leading the way for the Giants in the World Series in shortstop Edgar Renteria and first baseman Aubrey Huff. Renteria is in his third WS appearance (’96 Marlins & ’04 Cardinals) and has been raking against Rangers pitching, hitting .429 with 1 HR, 3 RBIs and 5 runs in the series. While Huff has spent most of his years with the doormat Rays and Orioles, Huff has made the most so far out of his first WS appearance hitting .357 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.
Rangers haven’t been getting much out of their hitters other then some dude named Mitch Moreland. The 25 year old is the lone Ranger in the lineup hitting over .300 ( Moreland is hitting .455 in 11 at bats), leading Texas in HRs (1) and RBIs (3).
