When thinking about the greatest individual performance in Texas Rangers playoff history, there's not exactly a wealth of options from which to choose.
Including this season, Texas has only made five total postseason appearances.
On Tuesday in the American League Divisional Series, Adrian Beltre put his name near the top of that short list. The Texas third baseman clubbed three home runs in the Rangers' 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
I've never seen a Rangers postseason performance quite like this one from the plate. Beltre connected on solo shots in each of his first three plate appearances, and the significance of the big flies was obvious in the 4-3 result that knocked Tampa Bay out of the postseason.
As a brief aside, what instantly comes to mind as the greatest Rangers individual postseason performance of all-time is Cliff Lee dominating the Yankees in Game 3 of the 2010 ALCS: eight dazzling innings, two hits, no earned runs, one walk, 13 strikeouts. At Yankee Stadium. Ridiculous.
Beltre's performance, though, certainly is in the conversation.
He displayed long-range power to all parts of the Trop, blasting two homers to left field and another impressive opposite-field smash to right. Beltre took promising right-hander Jeremy Hellickson deep twice. Matt Moore, who silenced the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALDS, was Beltre's other home run victim.
In a game where the Rangers connected on just three other hits, Beltre's contributions were vital to the Rangers advancing to their second ALCS in as many years. Texas is currently waiting on the winner of New York and Detroit before it continues play on Saturday.
Beltre was in a ridiculous zone, to the point where it seemed like he'd connect on a home run on every swing he took. It was a beautiful power display to witness.
I can't stress enough the impact that offseason acquisitions Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli have had on another dream season here in 2011. They were the Rangers' two best players in the ALDS, and neither was on the team in 2010. Funny to think about.
Beltre's home run hat trick to knock out a red-hot, so-called-team-of-destiny Rays squad — in Tampa Bay — has to be considered one of the most impressive feats in a single game the franchise has ever known.
The second straight dream season continues. Sometimes, I have to open my eyes a few times to make sure it's really happening.
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