Major League Baseball

Rangers run into a familiar barrier

Published Oct. 16, 2010 10:05 p.m. ET

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ARLINGTON - The New York Yankees are already making it look like the 1990s all over again for the Rangers.

Alex Rodriguez scooted home soon after his two-run single that nearly was a double-play grounder, and the Yankees rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Rangers, 6-5, Friday night in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series.

The Rangers still have never won a postseason game at home - even after building a 5-0 lead against CC Sabathia.

Robinson Cano hit a solo homer in the seventh to begin the Yankees' comeback. Brett Gardner's headfirst dive for an infield hit started the big rally the next inning against C.J. Wilson and four relievers.

The Rangers threatened in the ninth against Mariano Rivera, putting a runner on second with one out. But Rivera struck out Michael Young and retired Josh Hamilton on a grounder.

New York has won 10 consecutive postseason games against the Rangers, who were knocked out of the playoffs by the Yankees in their only three previous playoffs appearances (1996, 1998 and 1999). Texas is 0-7 in home playoff games, five of those losses to the Yankees.

"I don't know if we gave it away. We just didn't execute," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It certainly was our ballgame. We needed six outs. We just didn't get it."

Right-hander Colby Lewis starts Game 2 for the Rangers today against right-hander Phil Hughes.

Hamilton's three-run homer in the first put Texas ahead, and only a fortunate bounce on what could've been a bases-loaded wild pitch later in the inning stopped the Rangers from getting more.

Wilson, the crafty lefty reliever-turned starter, blanked the Yankees through six innings to the cheers of Rangers part-owner Nolan Ryan and the Texas crowd. Then, the home run by Cano started things going awfully wrong for the Rangers.

Gardner, the speedy ninth-place hitter, led off the eighth with an infield hit, and Derek Jeter followed with an RBI double to chase Wilson.

Darren Oliver, the only player who had been in a playoff game with the Rangers before this season, came in with a 5-2 lead and walked the only two batters he faced.

Rodriguez, who had already struck out twice and made a fielding error to the delight of his former Texas fans, hit a hard grounder that hopped over Young's glove at third base. The single came against right-hander Darren O'Day, who faced only one batter and took the loss.

Cano, who had homered an inning earlier, then had an RBI single off lefty Clay Rapada, who didn't face another batter. Marcus Thames followed with the single off Derek Holland that drove home Rodriguez.

Dustin Moseley, the second of four Yankees' relievers, struck out four in his two perfect innings.

Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 42nd career postseason save, extending his major league record. He has allowed only one earned run over his last 21 postseason appearances (28 innings).

"I'm never surprised at what our guys do. Maybe thrilled, but never surprised," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

And things had started so well for the Rangers in their first-ever ALCS game, and the first time playing a postseason series opener at Rangers Ballpark.

With Hamilton's three-run homer in the first, Texas already had more runs than it scored in all of the 1998 and 1999 division series against New York. The Rangers scored only one run in each of those while being swept in three games both times. They lost the last three games in the 1996 after winning their playoff debut in old Yankee Stadium.

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