Streaking Rays set for rematch with Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers had to win their last six games in the regular season to beat out the Tigers and earn the second seed in the American League playoffs.

Just to get into the postseason, the Rays had to overcome a nine-game deficit in the final month and a seven-run deficit after seven innings in the final game.

"Right now there's nothing that we don't think that we can't do . . . We believe," Rays manager Joe Maddon said yesterday, a day before the opener of a rematch of last year's AL Division Series. "We definitely have a strong belief system going on right now, regardless of how we can look at these other teams that we have to play."

A tired Tampa Bay arrived yesterday at Rangers Ballpark, where the defending AL champion Rangers were working out after getting to fly home from Los Angeles rather than having to go to Yankee Stadium.

When the Rangers and Rays met in the playoffs last season, the visiting team won every game. That's the only time that has ever happened in the major leagues.

"You're talking about two teams that don't really care where they play," Rangers designated hitter Michael Young said. "It should be a fun series. You're talking about two teams that are playing extremely well heading into the postseason."

In Game 1 today, C.J. Wilson (16-7) pitches for the Rangers, who have won 14 of 16 games and set a franchise record with 96 victories. Wilson has known for more than a week that he'd be starting the playoff opener. Fellow lefthander Derek Holland (16-5) is set to start Game 2 tomorrow night.

Maddon, whose team went 16-8 while having to play every day like an elimination game for the past few weeks, said the Rays still were discussing their playoff rotation.

"We celebrated last night, as we should have," Maddon said. "My focus is on one night at a time and I really don't try to split my concentration under those moments."

While the only question for the Rangers in the last few days was whether they'd hold off Detroit for the AL's second-best mark, Tampa Bay finally clinched its playoff spot in a wild and exhilarating end to the regular season.

Evan Longoria homered leading off the 12th inning early yesterday morning against the Yankees only minutes after Boston had given up two ninth-inning runs in a loss at Baltimore.

"We've just got to ride this high that we're on," Longoria said. "I don't think there's any better push or kind of momentum that you can have than what we're coming off of."