The Toronto Blue Jays started their ALDS series against the Texas Rangers with a bang Thursday with a 10-1 win. By now, you’ve read our columns about how great Marco Estrada pitched, how Jose Bautista got his revenge and how Troy Tulowitzki provided a decisive blow to the Rangers with a bases clearing triple.
But what about the writers on the other side?
Below is a sample of what the Rangers columnists had to say after the game. Spoiler: they weren’t happy.
Dallas Morning News — We’re about to find out exactly how resilient Rangers are after Hamels unravels, Toronto pummels Texas
Tortured Rangers fans know all about “one pitch away” moments and their miniscule value. Their team is in deep trouble against a lineup that may be emerging from its own September slumber. Josh Donaldson went 4 for 4 and, yes, Jose Bautista was hardly rattled by the boos that washed down from the crowd of 47,434. He produced his second playoff home run, having opened Tuesday’s wild-card scoring with one, and drove in four runs.
Bautista’s three-run homer late in the game was the only knockout punch this crowd got to witness.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram — Blue Jays foiled Rangers’ plans with a knockout punch
Rule One of the best-of-five MLB division series dictates that the home team must win the first two games. The penalty is losing the home-field advantage, not to mention whatever momentum the 95 wins and the 47,434-member audience bring.
But, Rangers chin, meet the cocked right knuckles of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lone Star Ball — Rangers get negative Postseason run differential off to fast start, lose 10-1
(Although) this is obviously a potentially season-ending setback, the Rangers have shown that they can bounce back from circumstances such as this. That said, I really would like the Rangers to stop performing poorly in home ALDS games.
Whatever, let’s all go to Whataburger.
