Rangers eliminate Tampa Bay

Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

This is what Adrian Beltre envisioned when he signed with Texas in the offseason. Balls jumping off his bat in October, the Rangers making another run for the pennant.

Beltre hit three straight home runs and the defending AL champions advanced again, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in Game 4 Tuesday to win their playoff matchup.

Beltre put on a power show that few players in major league history have matched, helping Texas take the best-of-five series and ending the Rays’ remarkable run to the wild-card spot.

“From my point of view, Texas gave me the best chance to put a ring on my finger,” Beltre added, “and I am just two steps away from it. Hopefully that happens.”

Ian Kinsler led off the game for Texas by homering on the second pitch from rookie Jeremy Hellickson.

Then it was Beltre’s turn. He came into the game in an 1-for-11 slump in this series before breaking loose.

Maybe Beltre’s best day as a pro.

“I think besides my first big league hit, this is right up there,” said the slugger, who spent last season with the Boston Red Sox. He’s back in the postseason for the first time since 2004, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was the seventh time a player has homered three times in a postseason game — Adam Kennedy was the last to do it, for the Angels in 2002. Babe Ruth did it twice, while Reggie Jackson, George Brett and Bob Robertson also are on the list.

Texas reached the World Series for the first time last year, but lost to San Francisco.

Yankees 10, Tigers 1

DETROIT

Curtis Granderson made two spectacular catches against his former team and A.J. Burnett came through when the Yankees needed him most, sending the AL playoff series back to the Bronx for a decisive Game 5.

Derek Jeter bounced back from a game-ending strikeout Monday, putting the Yankees ahead to stay with a two-run double in the third inning. Granderson also had an RBI double and New York broke it open with six runs in the eighth.

Shaky all season, Burnett started only because Game 1 was suspended by rain Friday. He was in trouble in the first after loading the bases on walks but Granderson made a leaping grab of Don Kelly’s line drive in center field, preventing at least three runs.

Phillies 3, Cardinals 2

ST. LOUIS

Pinch-hitter Ben Francisco and closer Ryan Madson made manager Charlie Manuel’s moves look smart, and Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead in the NL playoff series.

Francisco batted for pitcher Cole Hamels and broke open a scoreless game with a three-run homer in the seventh inning.

Madson earned a five-out save. He induced a double play to escape in the eighth and gave up a run in the ninth before nailing down his first multi-inning save of the year.

The Phillies, favored to win it all after a franchise-record 102-win season, can finish off the wild-card Cardinals in Game 4 today, with Roy Oswalt opposing Edwin Jackson.