Major League Baseball

Late single might jump-start Guerrero

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:13 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK - Besides the Rangers' most important achievemen t Monday night - winning - the next-most significant might have been a single through the left side of the infield.

Why? Because it happened in the ninth inning, and because the Ranger who came through was struggling cleanup hitter Vladimir Guerrero.

The Rangers need more of such production from Guerrero, much more, if they are to capitalize on their 2-1 American League Championship Series lead and close out the reigning World Series champion Yankees.

When Guerrero came to bat with no outs in the ninth, Josh Hamilton was on second base and the Rangers were clinging to a 2-0 lead. And Guerrero was 0-for-3 for the game and 1-for-12 for the series.

Under the circumstances, it was encouraging enough for the Rangers when, after falling behind 0-2 to Yankees reliever David Robinson, Guerrero fouled off three pitches and then took a ball.

When Guerrero sent the next pitch bouncing into left field, advancing Hamilton to third base, it was more than a bonus. It helped open the floodgate to a six-run Rangers inning.

And perhaps just as important, it might unleash the Rangers veteran who drove in 115 regular-season runs, fourth-most in the American League.

Before Monday's game, Rangers manager Ron Washington was asked whether he considered moving Guerrero out of the cleanup spot.

"That's the way I ran my lineup out there all year," Washington said. "That's the way my lineup's going to stay.

"I never once thought about flip-flopping anybody. A guy of Vlad's stature, he's only one swing away from doing damage. He's our No. 4 hitter, and I'm going to leave him in the No. 4 spot."

Washington's patience might be rewarded, after all, though Rangers fans probably had to wonder after Guerrero struck out in the fourth and sixth innings Monday.

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