By Nate Tashjy
Staff Writer
Preseason, ESPN predicted that the Texas Rangers would not even make the play-offs. Defying all odds, the Rangers come into the 2010 World Series as the favorite, playing a strong San Fransisco Giants team, that is ready to play.
Wednesday night was game one, Cliff Lee for the Rangers pitching against Tim Lincecum. The Giants won 11-7, pounding nearly untouchable Lee, putting the pressure on the Rangers in game two. Game two was a matchup of Matt Cain of the Giants against CJ Wilson of the Rangers. All went wrong once again for the Rangers, with Cain pitching 7 2/3 scoreless and Wilson letting up 9 as the Rangers were shut out. Going to Texas for game three, the Rangers hope to pick up the slack.
The Texas Rangers were predicted to finish second to the Seattle Mariners in the American League West this year. They were told they were too inexperienced, and did not have strong pitching or coaches. This season, they performed an onslaught of the other American League West teams, the Athletics, Angels and Mariners, leaving them all with records under .500. With pitcher Cliff Lee and hitters such as Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guererro leading the way, the Rangers knocked off the Tampa Bay Rays, taking themselves to New York to face the high-powered Yankees. Though the Yankees were high favorites, the Rangers dominated throughout the series, only being shut down by CC Sabathia and winning the series 4-2, bringing home their first American League Pennant, and making their first ever trip to the World Series.
The San Francisco Giants were predicted to come in third place in the National League West. Showing their fight in a tough division, the came out with the National League West title, winning it in the final game of the season. In the first round, they swept the Atlanta Braves, sending them to the high powered Phillies, who have been to the World Series the last two years and won it in 2008. Pounding Roy Halladay and shutting down the Phillies potent line up, sending them to their first Worlds Series since 2002.
