Young, Wilson help Rangers go up 2-0 on Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Gratified to finally be in the playoffs, Michael Young and the Texas Rangers are making the most of their opportunity.

Young hit a three-run homer one pitch after keeping his at-bat alive with a disputed check swing, helping C.J. Wilson and the AL West champions beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-0, Thursday for a 2-0 lead in their American League Division Series.

"I just think that we've had a great mentality these first two games," Young said. "We're not really thinking about some huge, grand picture here. We empty the bank for the game we're playing that day."

Texas is the only current major-league franchise that's never won a playoff series. After winning twice on the road, that can change with one victory when the best-of-five series shifts to Rangers Ballpark. Game 3 is Saturday, with the Rays' Matt Garza facing Colby Lewis.

"Being up 2-0 is huge, especially winning two on the road. But we still haven't accomplished anything yet," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Ian Kinsler also homered for the Rangers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and hadn't won a postseason game in 14 years before Cliff Lee shut down the sputtering Rays on Wednesday.

Wilson was equally impressive, allowing two hits in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up a single to Jason Bartlett to start the game, then limited the Rays to three baserunners on an error, a walk and a hit batter the next five innings.

Willy Aybar doubled in the seventh for the second hit off the Texas starter, who departed with runners at second and third. Darren O'Day struck out pinch hitter Matt Joyce and Darren Oliver got seven outs to finish the two-hitter before a sellout crowd of 35,535.

One pitch after first-base umpire Jerry Meals ruled Young had held up in time on a check swing in the fifth, Young broke open the game with a 431-foot shot to center off Chad Qualls. Rays manager Joe Maddon went out to talk with Qualls and was ejected by plate ump Jim Wolf after Maddon yelled at Meals from the mound.