MLB Playoffs: Rays' Defensive Prowess Deserts Them As Rangers Lead

The Tampa Bay Rays have been among the league's best defensive teams for the past three years. This year they rank third in team Defensive Efficiency according to Baseball Prospectus. Ben Zobrist was solidly above average with the glove at four defensive positions. James Shields, for the fourth straight year, was a good hurler when it came to stopping the running game.

However, in the second inning against the Rangers Thursday afternoon, none of that was visible. Texas scored an unearned run after a series of unspectacular defensive plays.

With Matt Treanor already at first base and Julio Borbon batting, the Rays had a chance to get the lead runner when Borbon hit a grounder to Zobrist at first base. If regular first baseman Carlos Pena had been playing, he might have tried to get Treanor and start a double play. Instead, Zobrist elected to get Borbon, thereby allowing a Ranger runner to reach scoring position.

After an infield single put runners at the corners, Shields made an even more crucial mistake. He threw erratically on a pickoff attempt, allowing Treanor to score the go-ahead run for Texas.

On the other side, C.J. Wilson keeps rolling for the Rangers. After two looking strikeouts in the third, Wilson has three for the game and has allowed only one hit. He has delivered 13 called strikes among his 43 pitches, taking advantage of Tampa's patience. The Rays swung at 44.2 percent of total pitches this year, the seventh-smallest percentage in baseball.

The Rangers are now one-third of the way to a 2-0 Series lead. The Rays need to find their gear—and fast.