Rangers focused on Series return

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas

The Texas Rangers are back in the World Series with a boom and a purpose.

Just getting there isn’t enough this time.

“We’ve got that experience,” Ian Kinsler said. “It wasn’t a very good one, but we have the experience.”

Texas waited a half-century to finally play in their first World Series before losing to San Francisco in five games last year. They quickly have another chance to win their first championship.

The Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant after an unprecedented playoff power display by Nelson Cruz, who had six home runs and 13 RBIs in the six-game AL championship series. Saturday, they beat Detroit 15-5 in the clincher after a nine-run outburst in the third inning.

“It was a group commitment. We weren’t very happy with the results [against the Giants], and we certainly knew that we were a better team than we showed,” manager Ron Washington said before relaying what Michael Young told teammates after last year’s World Series.

The message from the team’s longest-tenured player: “Enjoy your winter, but don’t turn it off mentally. We’re capable of getting back.”

And they were, even without Cliff Lee.

The franchise that began as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961, then moved to Texas in 1972 with Ted Williams as its manager, opens another World Series on Wednesday night at St. Louis or Milwaukee.

The World Series returns deep into the heart of Texas with Game 3 on Saturday.

“It’s amazing but I have to say that I couldn’t be prouder for this group of men,” team president and CEO Nolan Ryan said.

The Rangers had a day off Sunday. They will work out at home Monday afternoon, then fly to the National League city the following morning.

Hall of Fame pitcher Ryan got to only one World Series as a player, as a 22-year-old reliever for the 1969 Amazin’ Mets. He’s going to his second in a row as a team executive since the ownership group he is part of finally acquired the Rangers in August 2010.

Texas is the AL’s first consecutive pennant winner since the New York Yankees won four in a row from 1998-2001