ALDS Game 2 reaction: Hey Rays, stop complaining

Just one day after Cliff Lee silenced Tampa Bay's bats, another left-handed Texas pitcher — this time C.J. Wilson — shut out the Rays for 6.1 innings in the Rangers' 6-0 triumph on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Series status: Rangers 2, Rays 0.

Incredible, really. Before the series, I said to mostly every friend I talked to about the series that I'd be content with a split going back to Arlington.

So much for that.

The Rangers are playing their best ball of the season, and they're beating the Rays at their own game. Timely hitting, fundamental baseball, running/being aggressive on the base paths...and most importantly, above-average pitching.

The story in the series, to me, so far is pretty simple.

Game 1: Lee 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K.
Game 2: Wilson 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.

Both, of course, earned victories. And both gave us the chance to sweep Tampa in Saturday's 4:07 p.m. game in Arlington. No way I would have imagined that before the series.

One topic from yesterday's game that I'm still thinking about was how much Tampa Bay's players and fans complained.

It's tacky and looks bad. I know it's built-up frustration, but to really think the Rays could have won had the umpires called Michael Young's check-swing a strikeout is preposterous. The Rays didn't say that, but their actions spoke like the umpires completely blew the game. Blue, how could you do such a thing?

After all, Texas didn't take a 2-0 lead before Young's three-run home run after the check-swing. The Rangers didn't shut out Tampa Bay in its own place.

Oh wait...yeah they did.

Rays runs before Young's check-swing: 0.
Rays runs after Young's check-swing: 0.

Stop complaining. Tampa Bay would have lost Thursday's game either way.

Baseball 101: To win, you have to score at least one run.

I can't wait for Saturday's game, when Texas tries to advance in a playoff series for the first time in team history. I'm working, but I'll get to see every pitch like the first two games since first pitch is at 4:07 p.m.

Let's finish this.