Major League Baseball

Hamilton provided the spark

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:15 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Josh Hamilton preached patience at the plate in the first two games of the AL Championship Series.

Monday night in Game 3, he preached power.

Hamilton's two-run homer to right in the first inning, his second of the series, gave the Rangers the only runs they would need in the 8-0 victory.

Hamilton said that swing wasn't even the best one he had. That came in the sixth inning when he just missed another homer to right field that Nick Swisher caught at the wall. Hamilton also started the six-run ninth inning with a double to left and came around to score.

Cliff Lee was happy to see Hamilton, who walked four times in Game 2, provide him with some early run support.

"Any time you can score early like that with a two-run lead in the first it definitely makes it easy for the starting pitcher," Lee said. "I happened to be the guy who benefited from that today. Especially on the road, you go out there and put up some runs early, that's huge."

Hamilton also homered in the first inning in Game 1.

Yankees fans no match for Mom: Rangers pitcher Tommy Hunter was expecting a loud crowd at Yankee Stadium for Game 3.

"Gets blood going. Gets adrenaline going - especially when you see people waving flags and stuff. Gives you goosebumps," he said.

Hunter made his second postseason start in Game 4 on Wednesday following a loss to Tampa Bay in Game 4 of the first round. He said he didn't think the crowd would get to him.

"I had Mom screaming at me when I was 12," he said. "That's probably more intimidating than people I don't know."

Tickets sold out: All tickets for the three possible World Series games at Rangers Ballpark have been sold. The World Series games in Arlington would be Games 3 through 5. There are still some seats remaining for possible Games 6 and 7 of the ALCS.

DMN , special to DMN

ON SPORTSDAYDFW.COM: Find coverage of Tuesday night's Game 4.

Today's pitchers

Rangers starter LHP C.J. Wilson (15-8, 3.35 ERA): Despite a strong outing in Game 1, Wilson got no decision when the bullpen helped blow a four-run lead. In two postseason starts, Wilson has allowed three runs in 13.1 innings.

Key matchup: Alex Rodriguez is 1-for-16 (.063) against Wilson, including 0-for-3 in Game 1.

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (21-7, 3.18): After an eight-day layoff Sabathia looked out of rhythm against the Rangers in Game 1. He allowed six hits, four walks and five runs in four innings. He was 11-2 with a 3.00 ERA during the regular season at home. That included a six-inning win against the Rangers in April when he beat Wilson.

Key matchup: In day games, Sabathia held hitters to a .191 average in 2010. Rangers OF Josh Hamilton hit 98 points lower during the day (.286) than at night (.384).

3:07 p.m. today (TBS, ESPN-FM 103.3, KRLD-FM 105.3)

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball