Rays manage just two hits in 6-0 loss to Rangers, trail series 0-2

ST. PETERSBURG Written on the white board inside the Rays clubhouse after Thursday's game were two items: The team bus would be leaving for the airport at 6:50 p.m. and, "Win 2 in Texas! Let's go!"

The number two was circled for emphasis.

If they Rays don't beat the Rangers twice at Rangers Ballpark this weekend, their season is going to end sooner than anyone expected.

Thursday's 6-0 loss to the Rangers in Game 2 of the American League Division Series pushed the Rays to the brink of elimination in this best-of-five series.

"We know we gotta fire right back," losing pitcher James Shields said. "We've been fighters ever since '08 when we started turning this organization around, so it's time to go."

Since the ALDS began in 1995, only four of the 19 teams that fell behind 0-2 came back to win. The 2001 Yankees were the only team to lose the first two at home and rally to win the series.

"Nothing is impossible," said Randy Choate, who was a member of that Yankees team. "The one thing about that team was we just never felt like we were out of it. You have to go in there believing you can get it done."

The Rays, who haven't hit a lick and struck out 23 times during the first two games, at least have that going for them as they prepare for Saturday's Game 4.

"We just got to go into their place with the mentality that this season isn't over," Evan Longoria said. "We're still here. We still have an opportunity to play a baseball game. With that being said, that has to be the belief. We're not going to Texas to lose one game and go home. We're going there to win two and bring the series back here."

Game 2 was much like Game 1 in that the Rays were dominated by another of the Rangers' left-handed starters. This time is was C.J. Wilson, who allowed two hits over 6 1/3 innings during his postseason debut.

The Rays' offense showed a little life in the seventh inning when Wilson walked Ben Zobrist and allowed a double to Willy Aybar. Wilson struck out Kelly Shoppach before turning the ball over to his bullpen. Darren O'Day struck out pinch-hitter Matt Joyce. Darren Oliver followed O'Day, walked pinch-hitter Dan Johnson to load the bases, then got Jason Bartlett to fly out to center field on the first pitch.

The Rays, who are hitting .125 as a team during the first two games, are 1-for-13 with nine strikeouts with runners in scoring position. Of their 23 strikeouts, 11 have been called.

"We need a big hit," Longoria said. "Somebody needs to get a big hit and kind of break the silence."

The Rangers are the ones with the big hits in the series. Ian Kinsler homered off Shields in the fourth inning for a 2-0 lead. In the fifth, it was Michael Young who crushed a 3-2 slider from Chad Qualls for a three-run homer that gave the Rangers a 5-0 lead and pretty much put the game out of reach.

The homer followed another controversial call. This time, first-base umpire Jerry Meals ruled Young checked his swing on a 2-2 pitch. Instead of strike three, the count was full. And with Josh Hamilton on deck, Qualls felt he had to challenge Young or risk loading the bases for Hamilton.

After the home run, Rays manager Joe Maddon went out to the mound with the sole purpose of arguing the call on Young's check swing. He was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, which he later said was his objective.

"I wanted to make a statement and jack up the team a little," Maddon said. "It didn't work."

The Rays' bats, which ran cold for the final 10 games of the regular season, have produced just eight hits and one run against the Rangers.

"A big hit in a big moment would be great to get the momentum going, get the offense going in general," Zobrist said. "We just haven't had that yet. Anytime we've had those at-bats, they've made great pitches. They haven't left things over the middle of the plate to crush, and when we hit the ball hard, they're not falling right now. We need things to just turn around quick."

That the Rays had the best road record in the major leagues is encouraging. So is the fact they seem to thrive on a bit of adversity.

"We're definitely going to be tested," Sean Rodriguez said. "I guess in a way this is what suits us better, being the underdog again. It's true we can use that one big hit. We haven't really caught a break, but then in a way you have to create that for yourself. You can't wait for that to happen. You've got to make something happen."

Matt Garza starts Game 3 for the Rays. Win and the season continues to Sunday's Game 4.

Lose and the American League East Division champions are finished until spring training.

"The way this team plays on the road, we're just waiting for that one hit to get us rolling," Choate said. "We go out, we get a game there and we take it to (Game 4). I know it's a cliché, but you basically have to take it one game at a time."