For the first time in franchise history, the Texas Rangers are going to the World Series, and they did it by knocking off the heavily-favored New York Yankees. Texas starter Colby Lewis dominated the Yankees for eight innings and Vladimir Guerrero hit a clutch two run double for the team’s first American League Championship.

The Rangers offense picked up where it left off against Phil Hughes. After beating him in Game 2 of the series, they scored a quick run in the first when Guerrero drove in Elvis Andrus with an RBI groundout.

The Yankees tied the game in the fifth inning with Nick Swisher batting and Alex Rodriguez on third. Lewis threw a pitch in the dirt which bounced into Swisher’s leg and then to the backstop. Rodriguez trotted home and the run counted because the Home Plate umpire missed the call and didn’t declare the ball dead and award Swisher first base. Ron Washington argued but the run stood and the game was tied at one.

In the bottom of the fifth, Hughes ran into trouble again. After Mitch Moreland hit a leadoff single, Hughes retired Andrus and Michael Young. With two outs, the Yankees decided to intentionally walk Josh Hamilton. Vladimir Guerrero, who hadn’t had an RBI in the series coming into Game 6, roped a two run double to the gap in left-center, giving the Rangers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Rangers added two more runs in the fifth on a Nelson Cruz homerun, his second of the series. The final run of the game came in the seventh inning, when Ian Kinsler hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, making the score 6-1, a score that would last until the final out.

Although the Rangers offense got the job done, the real story of the night was Colby Lewis. He allowed only one run and three hits to a vaunted Yankees lineup.

Neftali Feliz came in to shut the door in the ninth, and the celebration began when he caught Alex Rodriguez looking for the final out of the game.

Ranger’s legend and team President Nolan Ryan was presented with the American League Championship Trophy following the game and Josh Hamilton was awarded the ALCS MVP.

The Rangers now await the winner of the series between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants. Cliff Lee will likely get the start in Game One of the World Series for the Rangers.

Used with permission of the author.

 Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC