By Michael Ventura
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — The New York Yankees will face the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series after the Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday night, 5-1.
The Yanks are heading to their second straight ALCS, after sweeping the Minnesota Twins. For the Rangers, the win marks their first postseason series victory in 50 years.
“This is definitely where you want to be, in the postseason, moving onto the A.L.C.S.,” Rangers ace Cliff Lee said, according to the New York Times. “You couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. Hopefully, we can take it to the Yankees and get to the World Series and try to win the whole thing.”
Lee pitched nine innings Tuesday and struck out 11 Rays.
The Yankees were 4-4 against the Rangers during the regular season, the New York Post reported.
The Bronx Bombers figure to have a pitching advantage heading into the series, which starts Friday, because Lee won't be available to pitch again until next week. The Yanks will start their ace CC Sabathia on Friday.
