Rangers' Burden Shifts to Cliff Lee as Game 5 Against Rays Looms

by John Hickey

Filed under: Rangers, Rays, MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series

ARLINGTON, Texas -- "Cliff Lee is made for this moment. He's a warrior." -- Rangers third baseman Michael Young.

"Cliff's the guy you want in this situation. He's a warrior." -- Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler.

"And Cliff Lee? He is a warrior." -- Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria.

Picking up a thread here? It's not much of a stretch to say that Cliff Lee was on the mind of both friend and foe in the wake of Tampa Bay's 5-2 win in the American League Division Series Sunday. The win kept the Rays alive and sends the competition back to St. Petersburg, Fla., where Game 5 will eliminate one of the two from the postseason.

Asked about being a warrior, Lee considered for a minute, then said, "A warrior is someone that is like a gladiator (or) a fighter.

"I am not really that," the veteran left-hander continued. "I'm a professional athlete. I am a pitcher. But I'm competitive. I hate to lose. I like to compete. If that goes under 'warrior,' I guess I am that. But I am just extremely competitive is how I would phrase it."

 

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