Alberto, Rangers Beat Blue Jays In 14th, Lead Alds 2-0

Alberto, Rangers beat Blue Jays in 14th, lead ALDS 2-0 Alberto, a seldom-used backup infielder, lined a tie-breaking single to center in the 14th inning, helping the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series. “I didn’t even ask him for it,” Alberto said, smiling at DeShields sitting beside him on the postgame interview podium. DeShields then picked up the bat and put it to good use, driving in another run with an infield hit after Liam Hendriks replaced LaTroy Hawkins (0-1), The underdog Rangers will try to sweep the Blue Jays at home in Game 3 on Sunday. The Giants were the last team to do it, coming back to beat Cincinnati three straight times after losing at home in the first two games of their 2012 NL Division Series. Alberto, batting last and only in the lineup because third baseman Adrian Beltre was out with a strained back, made an error that led to Toronto’s first two runs but redeemed himself with his big hit in extra innings. The 22-year-old Alberto, who made his big-league debut this season, also had a sacrifice fly. The victory for Banister’s team made road clubs 5-0 in the playoffs to that point — the only previous time that happened in the postseason was the 1906 all-Chicago World Series, Stats LLC said. Kansas City snapped that skid a little later Friday with a 5-4 victory over Houston in Game 2 of their Division Series. Keone Kela (1-0) worked one inning for the win, staying calm after a dustup with Toronto slugger Josh Donaldson. Toronto, back in the postseason for the first time since winning the 1993 World Series, lost for the second straight day at home. Rougned Odor hit a two-out single off Hawkins in the 14th but was nearly thrown out after going too far around second base on a single by Chris Gimenez, with the call confirmed by replay review. Donaldson was back in the lineup after taking a knee to the head trying to break up a double play in the opener. Both benches and both bullpens briefly emptied in the bottom of the 13th when Donaldson and Kela traded words after the slugger’s deep fly went foul. Napoli was caught in a rundown to end the inning, but Cecil injured his left calf while chasing down Napoli and had to be helped off the field by the trainer.