Rangers’ Beltre leaves playoff game with stiff back

While they do have their work cut out for them against the Blue Jays, it’s definitely a big improvement.

David Price got the result he usually has when he pitches in the postseason.

Donaldson hit. 297 with a career-high 41 homers this season and led the AL with 123 RBIs. Reliever Keone Kela replaced Gallardo in the sixth and promptly served up a solo shot to Jose Bautista, bringing the Jays back to within one run. It was his first hit of the postseason. Delino DeShields took a fastball up the middle while avoiding a moving Ryan Goins to score the first run of the game.

The severity of both injuries is unclear at this point, but either player missing time certainly would change the complexion of the teams’ best-of-five ALDS.

Rangers manager Jeff Banister said he wasn’t sure whether Beltre would be available for Game 2. Donaldson’s helmet flew off as his head hit the inside of Odor’s left leg.The Toronto third baseman stayed down on the ground for a few seconds before walking off under his own power. Really, I’d say us and Texas probably have been the two hottest teams the last two months.

They clowned around before the first pitch, then took care of New York when it was time to get serious, before resuming their playful antics with a rousing 30-minute postgame party. Bautista left in the ninth after suffering a hamstring cramp. 2-0 Rangers. Beltre, who has had a history of injuries, would further tweak his back on the hack.

“He didn’t give up many hits”, said Gibbons. Rookie Hanser Alberto replaced Beltre in the field, however, for the bottom of the third.

“Russ can shut you down”, Banister said. “He’s the heart and soul of this ballclub”. Revere later scored on an infield single by Edwin Encarnacion to give Toronto its first run of the game.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson followed Revere’s single with a walk. The Blue Jays said that Donaldson was removed as a precaution after taking a knee to his head on the play from Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, who also was limping after the play.

After Prince Fielder’s inning-ending groundout, Beltre tried jogging to his position at third base but came out of the game, in obvious pain. Nobody knew at the time, but the slide Beltre made to try and break up the throw tweaked his back and ended up costing the Rangers. I was able to hit it it out of the ball park.

Odor’s line-drive homer to right in the seventh made it 5-3, shushing the crowd after Bautista’s homer.

The game finished with Sam Dyson on the mound, Encarnacion would manage a single but it wouldn’t be enough as Texas took game one right out of Toronto’s hands.

“I liked the effort and I liked our intensity”, Martin said. “They hold themselves accountable, very accountable, and that’s why we’re so fortunate as a coaching staff”. “I didn’t throw the ball the way that I’m capable of today and I’ll be ready to go whenever it’s my turn again”.

If you flip your television over to FS1 right now, you’ll the Blue Jays doing what the Yankees couldn’t do: They’re hosting Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

“It’s been a tremendous year for these guys”, Gibbons said.

For all his regular-season exploits, Price has lost six straight in the playoffs since a win over Boston in 2008.