Two-time defending AL champ Texas done without win

By Stephen Hawkins

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Oct. 5 2012 10:55 p.m. MDT

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish, right, moves around the dugout after leaving during the seventh inning of an American League wild-card playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, in Arlington, Texas.

Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

Summary

The Texas Rangers waited a year for another chance to get back to the World Series.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers waited a year for another chance to get back to the World Series.

This time, the two-time defending American League champs didn't even win a postseason game.

After twice last October coming within a strike of winning their first World Series title, a late-season slide cost them their AL West crown on the final day of the regular season and sent them into a one-and-done wild card game.

They lost 5-1 at home Friday night to the surprising Baltimore Orioles, even with Yu Darvish, their best pitcher on the mound.

Manager Ron Washington says his team "just didn't get it done" and that he never expected the Rangers to be finished so quickly.

Baltimore starter Joe Saunders had never won in Texas, but allowed only run pitching into the sixth.

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