Graveman perfect for six innings, then falters
OAKLAND, Calif. — Adrian Beltre and the Texas Rangers were subdued as they began the celebration, exchanging hugs near the pitcher’s mound at O.co Coliseum.
Things got more raucous in the clubhouse, with cigar smoke and champagne everywhere.
The Rangers are getting pretty good at this division title thing. Now it’s time to chase some more important hardware.
Beltre hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning as Texas secured its second straight American League West title, becoming the first AL team to clinch a playoff spot with a 3-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday.
“It’s just the first step,” Beltre said. “It’s just the first step.
“It’s not easy to get where we are right now. We took the first step to win the division and get into the playoffs. We have a good enough team to win the World Series. That’s our goal.”
This is Texas’ seventh AL West title — not including the strike-shortened 1994 season — and fourth since 2010. The Rangers have won division titles in both seasons since manager Jeff Banister took over after losing an AL-high 95 games in 2014.
“It’s a lot of fun to be part of, honestly,” Banister said. “Hard to describe unless you’re there every day, but everyone would rather to go to work where you love the people that you’re working with, you enjoy the culture, the camaraderie, and we’re fortunate that what’s we got right now.”
That camaraderie is a big part of how they got there.
“I feel like we’ve always had a lot of emotion,” Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis said. “We play with a lot of passion, and that’s what it’s all about; that’s what makes us good.”
Beltre’s homer came during a three-run seventh after Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (10-11) began with six perfect innings. Texas got its first baserunner when Carlos Gomez beat out an infield hit to lead off the seventh against Graveman.
“He was throwing the ball really well,” Beltre said. “His fastball was moving really well. He got us off-balanced for about six innings.
“We got lucky. We got a couple of balls that found some holes. We scored just when we needed to win the ballgame.”
Beltre unloaded on what he believes was Graveman’s first slider of the game.
“I was not suspecting that pitch, but he left it right over the plate,” Beltre said. “I was lucky enough to put a good swing on it.”
All-Star left-hander Cole Hamels (15-5), acquired prior to last year’s non-waiver trade deadline, pitched the division-clinching game for the second year in a row.
Last year, he threw a three-hitter in the last game of the regular season to beat the Los Angeles Angels.
Hamels struck out seven and allowed no walks in seven innings of six-hit ball in what for him was an important bounce-back after allowing 21 earned run in 18 innings over his previous four starts.