RON WASHINGTON RANGERS WENT INTO TROPICANA FIELD AND TOOK GAME 1, 5 -1 FROM TAMPA BAY RAYS.  TODAYS WIN WAS THE 2ND POSTSEASON WIN IN RANGERS HISTORY AND THEIR 1ST POSTSEASON APPEARANCE SINCE 1999.

CLIFF LEE STARTED THE DAY WITH THE BASES LOADED BUT THE LEFTHANDER PITCHED HIMSELF OUT OF TROUBLE.  LEE THREW 10 STRIKES IN 7 INNINGS; THE ONLY SCORE WAS A SINGLE HOMER IN THE 7TH.

RANGERS SCORED IN THE 2ND WITH FRANCOEUR’S RBI DOUBLE AND MOLINA’S RUN-SCORING SINGLE IN THE 2ND, CRUZ HIT A CENTER FILED 438FT HOMER IN THE 3RD, MOLINA HOMER IN THE 4TH AND GUERRERO’S DOUBLE OFF CENTER FILED WALL IN THE 5TH. 

THE RANGERS YOUNG CLOSER NEFTALI FELIX (22) PUT THE RANGERS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT IN THE 9TH BY WALKING THE 1ST 2 HITTERS, HE SETTLED DOWN WHEN THE 3RD BATTER WAS OUT WITH A LINE DRIVE, HE THEN CLOSED IT OUT WITH 2 STRIKES.  

GAME 2 WILL BE THURSDAY AT TROPICANA FIELD.