Major League Baseball

YOUNG SETS THE TABLE FOR TEXAS

Published Oct. 19, 2010 10:10 p.m. ET

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The Yankees managed only two hits in eight innings last night against Cliff Lee in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Michael Young, on the other hand, had three hits by himself.

The Rangers' third baseman went 3-for-5 - getting three singles off Yankees starter Andy Pettitte - to help the Rangers to an 8-0 victory over the Bombers, giving Texas a 2-1 series lead.

Young's at-bat in the first inning set the table for Josh Hamilton's tworun homer to the short porch in right field, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Tht was all of the cushion Lee would need.

"He's not just firing the ball down the middle of the plate," Young said of Lee. "He's throwing quality strike after quality strike and there really is a big difference."

After Young fell behind 0-and-2 against Pettitte, he fought back to a full count, fouling off three pitches along the way, before eventually singling to right field and setting the stage for Hamilton.

After Hamilton's home run, Pettitte settled down, retiring 19 of the next 21 hitters. The only batter to reach base for Texas during that stretch was Young, who reached on an infield single deep into the hole in shortstop in the fourth inning and on a single to right-center in the sixth.

Young, now in his 10th season - all with Texas - made his postseason debut this year after playing in 1,508 games. That total was the second most among active players, trailing only former Yankee Randy Winn. Young looked like a player making his postseason debut against the Rays, going 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer and three RBIs in the five-game series.

But Young has been much better against the Yankees, going 6-for-15 (.400) in the series with four RBIs and two runs scored.

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