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Big League Stew - MLB

Big League Stew

Sat Oct 16 12:33am EDT

Nolan Ryan made unhappy by Rangers collapse against Yankees

By David Brown

The body language of Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan in this screen cap says it all.

Ryan, sitting next to his former employer President George W. Bush, had a front-row view of the Rangers' five-run collapse in Game 1 of the ALCS.

The New York Yankees, dormant against left-hander C.J. Wilson(notes) for most of the game, scored once in the seventh and struck for five big ones in the eighth against Wilson and the Texas bullpen in a stunning 6-5 victory at Rangers Ballpark on Friday night.

The Rangers are still looking for their first-ever playoff victory at home. The Yankees are still looking like the Yankees.

Makes an ex-president want to chew on his glasses until someone comes up with a solution!

The Rangers battered Yankees ace CC Sabathia(notes) for five runs over four innings, getting a three-run homer by Josh Hamilton(notes) and a two-run double by Michael Young(notes). But the Yankees bullpen — notably Dustin Moseley(notes) — held Texas scoreless and gave New York's offense time to warm up.

Brett Gardner's(notes) slide into first for a single on what looked like an otherwise routine grounder started the Yankees rally, which was aided by two walks by ineffective Texas relief pitchers. Two of the Rangers' relievers — Darren O'Day(notes) and Clay Rapada(notes) — each threw one pitch that resulted in a run-scoring single.

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Ron Washington — who made four pitching changes in the inning — left closer Neftali Feliz(notes) in the bullpen as the lead was frittered away.

And I didn't even mention another heart-skewering moment, when Ian Kinsler(notes) got himself picked off in the eighth to subdue a budding Rangers rally.

It must have been agonizing — on several levels — for Ryan to watch from his seat.

Heck, look how happy Nolan and W were earlier in the game with Wilson dealing and the Yankees reeling. Quite a contrast.

Even earlier, in throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, Ryan looked like a much better option than anyone else Washington used in the eighth.

Nolan put some heat on that thing.

Now, the heat's on the Rangers, who come back with Colby Lewis(notes) — against Phil Hughes(notes) — on Saturday afternoon.

* * * 

Follow Dave on Twitter — @AnswerDave

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