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Race Day: Looking at the A.L. Playoff Races

Posted on September 17th, 2009 8:10am by Jeff Miller
Filed under AL West race, Baseball, Texas Rangers

AL West Race
Team	W-L	Pct.	GB	Yesterday	Today
Los Angeles	86-59	.593	-	L, at Bos. 9-8	at Bos., 6:10
Rangers	80-65	.552	6	L, Oak. 4-0	off

About the AL West Race

Los Angeles: After the Angels’ frenetic 9-8 loss at Fenway on Wednesday night, manager Mike Scioscia asked assembled media if the count was “3 and 4″ to Nick Green when Green walked to score the tying run before Alex Gonzalez’s winning bloop to left. Watch the at-bat and decide. LHP Brian Fuentes afterward said players across the league talk about umpires being intimidated at Fenway. Fuentes has allowed runs in three of his last five appearances, his ERA rising from 3.91 to 4.41.

The Angels finally broke out of their September hitting slump and couldn’t beat the weakest link in Boston’s rotation, RHP Paul Byrd. They’ve lost three straight, four of five, and send RHP Ervin Santana (7-8, 5.52 ERA) into Thursday night’s series finale before boarding a plane for D/FW. Last time out, Santana pitched seven innings and allowed two earned runs (solo home runs) and seven hits in a no-decision against the White Sox.

AL Wild Card Race
Team	W-L	Pct.	GB	Yesterday	Today
Boston	86-58	.597	-	W, LAA 9-8	vs. LAA., 6:10
Rangers	80-65	.552	6.5	L, Oak. 4-0	off

About the AL Wild Card Race

Boston: Still missing 1B-3B Kevin Youkilis and C-1B Victor Martinez, the Red Sox won with LF Jason Bay and 3B Mike Lowell hitting in the 3-4 holes to extend their winning streak to seven. SS Alex Gonzales preceded his ninth-inning heroics by earning his first walk since joining the team in mid-August. He’s 20-for-60 in his last 18 games. Martinez is expected back for Thursday night’s game after missing the last two while attending to a family matter in Cleveland. Youkilis, suffering from back spasms, might also return.

RHP Josh Beckett (15-6, 3.82) will finish the series on Thursday night. He has a 2-3 career record against the Angels in seven starts with two consecutive losses. In his only appearance against them this season, he whizzed a fastball near the head of RF Bobby Abreu (former Yankee, a coincidence?) and after the game drew a five-game suspension. The Red Sox are planning for RHP Tim Wakefield, who has pitched only twice since the All-Star break because of a bad back, to start Monday night’s game at Kansas City.

If The Playoffs Started Today

Detroit @New York; Boston @Los Angeles

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