The first two games of the American League Division series started today. The Texas Rangers faced the Toronto Blue Jays. While the Houston Astros battled against the AL’s top team the Kansas City Royal.
Texas Rangers 5 @ Toronto Blue Jays 3
The Rangers took advantage of every opportunity and it brought them a win against one of the best pitchers in the league in David Price. While the Toronto bats didn’t seem to connect, Price was rusty from the start giving up two runs in the third inning. After that it was down hill from there, especially for Justin Smoak. At the bottom of the fourth, Toronto had men on first and third. With two outs, Smoak failed to bring men home as he struck out. That at bat could’ve tied up the game or have given them the lead. The Rangers had a different story to tell as Robinson Chirinos, Delino DeShields, and Adrian Beltre were clutch. Its going to be interesting to see how Texas responds to Beltre possibly sitting out the next game as he left the game with a back strain. While he is not ruled out for Game 2, he left the game crying in pain. Game 2 is tomorrow at 11:45 pm CST on MLB Network.
Houston Astros 5 @ Kansas City Royals 2
In 2014, the Kansas City Royals started off as Wild Card team. No one believed the Royals would make a deep playoff run, but many named them the Cinderella team. With the city backing them, the Royals made it all the way to the World Series, unfortunately losing to the San Francisco Giants in Game 7. Now come the Houston Astros, one of the worst teams the last couple of seasons who somehow switched it on this season and were nearly the AL West Division champs. Coming off an impressive win against the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card game, the Astros came ready to battle. The bats came alive again as the team came up with 11 hits, including another home run by left fielder Colby Rasmus. Rasmus has already started to look like the teams X factor as he’s delivered for the Astros this season. The Royals on the other hand couldn’t rack up runs as their lineup started off cold in the first game. The only scores came of designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who had two home run’s. Houston’s second baseman Jose Altuve looked like he was ready to hit anything his way, and capitalized on most of his opportunities at bat. Just like that, in the matter of two games the Houston Astros are looking like this years Cinderella team. Game 2 is tomorrow at 2:45pm CST on FOX Sports 1.
