Rangers beat Rays, take 2-1 ALDS lead

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Back on the road in the playoffs, the Texas Rangers won again.

Colby Lewis outpitched All-Star David Price, Mike Napoli hit a go-ahead two-run homer and the defending AL champions survived a shaky night from the bullpen to hold off the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, last night in ALDS Game 3.

"I like hitting here. I feel comfortable hitting here," said Napoli, who hit .320 with 30 homers and 75 RBIs in 113 games for the Rangers.

The Rangers' fourth straight ALDS road win matched the third-longest streak in major-league history and gave Texas a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4 Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Texas won three ALDS games here a year ago, when it eliminated Tampa Bay in five games. The visiting team won each game in that series and has won seven of eight in Rays-Rangers ALDS play the last two years.

Desmond Jennings hit a pair of solo homers for the Rays, who kept it interesting by scoring twice off Rangers relievers before Neftali Feliz got four outs for his second save of the series.

Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre, playing deep and guarding the line in the ninth, started an around-the-horn double play on Kelly Shoppach's grounder to end it. "It was three of the toughest innings that we experienced all year," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Beltre singled leading off the seventh against Price and took second on a wild pitch. A crowd of 32,828 -- the first sellout at Tropicana Field since Opening Day -- fell silent when Napoli lifted a 2-and-2 pitch into the seats in left-center for a 2-1 lead. Josh Hamilton added a two-run single off reliever J.P. Howell.