Rays vs. Rangers: 5 Keys for Tampa Bay to Win and Force Game 5

On Monday night, the Tampa Bay Rays dropped Game 3 of the ALDS to the Texas Rangers with a score of 4-3.

They lost at home, giving the Rangers back home-field advantage and two chances to win and move on to the ALCS. If the Rays lose again Tuesday in Game 4, their postseason is over.

If the Rays want to come out with a victory on Tuesday, they are going to play like they really want to win. Here are five keys to success for the Rays if they want to beat out the Rangers and force a Game 5.

Jeremy Hellickson

Jeremy Hellickson is the scheduled starter against the Rangers in Game 4, and the Rays are going to need him to be flawless.

The Rangers have a relentless offense and if Hellickson lets up for just a moment, Tampa Bay's World Series hopes could end very quickly.

Hellickson may only be 24 and inexperienced in the postseason, but the kid is going to have to hold his own on Tuesday and play to his 2.95 season ERA.

A Repeat Performance from Desmond Jennings

In an earlier article I stated that Desmond Jennings would have to be a clutch hitter for the Rays if they wanted to win in the playoffs, and on Monday night, Jennings put forth his best effort.

Jennings hit two solo home runs, and even though the Rays couldn't win the game, Jennings needs to continue his offensive power surge to hopefully bring them to Game 5.

Slow Down the Rangers on the Basepaths

The Rangers ran all over the Rays on Monday night, stealing four bases in Teaxas' 4-3 victory.

Three of them came in the top of the seventh—the inning where the Rangers scored all four of their runs. If the Rays had been able to get one of the three out, two runs would have been saved and the Rangers may have lost the game.

The Rays are going to have to be more efficient at stopping Texas on the basepaths if they want to win on Tuesday.

Get Through Matt Harrison Quickly

In Game 3, Tampa Bay took six innings to get through starter Colby Lewis and were only able to score one run on the starter. When they got to the bullpen of Texas, they scored two runs.

The Rangers starter on Tuesday is Matt Harrison, who had a much better season than Lewis, so the Rays are going to need every offensive weapon they have in their lineup.

The faster Tampa Bay can beat up on Harrison, the faster they can get to the bullpen, where they can hopefully do the damage necessary to win.

As I learned from the movie Moneyball, the Rays need to pick their pitches and be patient at the plate. The more pitches Harrison throws, the faster Harrison will be chased.

Evan Longoria

If it was not for Evan Longoria, the Rays may not even be in the playoffs. He hit the home run in the final game of the season to spark the Rays comeback and he hit the walk off home run to ensure their wild card victory.

Longoria is the star of Tampa Bay, and on Tuesday the Rays need him to act like a star. The third basemen was hitless on Monday, and a hitless Longoria is something that the Rays simply cannot afford.

Evan Longoria needs to come up big for the Rays once again at home and force a Game 5 in the ALDS.

If the Rays can accomplish these five keys on Tuesday, I am sure that they will be victorious.