Adrian Beltre Smacks 3 Home Runs To Lead Texas Rangers Back to ALCS

Anyone that didn't notice the fantastic regular season Adrian Beltre had in 2011 probably notices it now. That's because in Game 4 of the ALDS in Tampa, Adrian Beltre did something not done since 2002. He hit three home runs in a postseason game.

They were all solo shots but the Rangers would need everyone of them, winning by a score of 4-3. Beltre joins a list that includes guys like: Adam Kennedy in 2002, George Brett in 1978 and Reggie Jackson in 1977, all of whom have hit three home runs in a postseason game.

The Tampa Bay Rays bum-rushed the American League playoffs by claiming the Wild Card spot on the final day of the regular season. Wednesday, Sept. 28 may end up going down as the most dramatic regular season day in MLB History. 

When the Rays—behind rookie phenom Matt Moore—were able to win Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series in Texas against the AL West Champion Rangers, many felt they might just cruise back to the ALCS for the first time since 2008. 

The Texas Rangers, however, were not among those believers.

Using a combination of solid pitching and a lineup with home run power from the leadoff to the the No. 9 slot, the Rangers won the next three games and find themselves right back where they were last season. In the ALCS. 

This was a team that made it all the way to the World Series by riding the considerable coattails of ace Cliff Lee. He was simply dominant all the way through the American League playoffs. When he departed for Philadelphia, many baseball experts had the Rangers on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

That was back in the Spring before Opening Day. Many of those same experts had the Red Sox winning or at least making it to the World Series and had the Rays in a rebuilding year having lost slugger Carlos Pena, speedster Carl Crawford and the bulk of what was a very effective bullpen. 

That's a lot of wrong predictions and the Rangers may just keep proving people wrong as well. Should Detroit beat the Yankees in the other divisional series then the Rangers would have home field in the ALCS. 

This Rangers lineup is best known for 2010 American League MVP Josh Hamilton and veteran hitter Michael Young. It's so much more than that, though. Ian Kinsler who hits leadoff, struggled through a very rough first half of 2011 but still managed to finish with over 30 home runs and over 30 stolen bases. 

Elvis Andrus is a young, fast shortstop with the ability to spray line drives all over the field. Nelson Cruz is yet another young slugger with 30 plus home run power. Mike Napoli who can play either DH or catcher and has hit 30 home runs this season. 

Then there's Beltre. The injury prone but skilled third baseman, who signed a one year deal with the Boston Red Sox before the 2010 season, was thought to be a bit past his prime when he showed up in Boston. He proved everyone wrong by responding with a one of the few bright spots in an injury plagued 2010 season for the rest of the Red Sox in 2010. 

Following the season he filed for free agency and Texas responded with a five year $80 million dollar contract. 2011 featured the requisite missed games due to injury but Beltre still managed to play gold-glove caliber third base and also hit 32 home runs in only 124 games. 

The Rangers now await the winner of the Detroit Tigers-New York Yankees series. They're likely to be considered underdogs regardless of who they face. The Tigers feature the game's best pitcher in Justin Verlander as well as one of its best hitters in Miguel Cabrera. The Yankees would have home-field advantage and have a considerable and impressive postseason history.

It's beginning to look like the Rangers enjoy the underdog role, though. Why stop now?