JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Jewish duo Ian Kinsler and Scott Feldman helped lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-3, extra-inning win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the A.L. Championship Series.

Texas was down 2-0 in the 6th inning when second baseman Kinsler hit an RBI double to cut the deficit in half. Moments later, the two-time All-Star stole 3rd and then scored on an Elvis Andrus single.

Feldman, a 6-foot-6″ right-hander sporting a positively rabbinic red beard, pitched one inning of no-hit relief in the 10th to earn the win. Though Feldman did make one mistake, hitting Tigers CF Austin Jackson with a 94 mph sinker, Kinsler erased the baserunner moments later when he tagged Jackson out on an attempted steal.

After spending the first half of 2011 on the disabled list while recovering from knee surgery, Feldman has had a remarkable postseason (see ESPN.com article). In three bullpen appearances spanning a total of 8-and-a-third innings, the 28-year-old has held opposing batters to a .111 batting average, struck out 9, and has yet to give up a walk or a run. His appearance in Game 2 of the A.L.C.S. marked the first time since 1999 that an MLB reliever pitched more than 4 innings of scoreless ball in a post-season game.

Kinsler is hitting .258 in the playoffs with 1 HR, 3 doubles (2nd highest among Rangers players), 6 RBIs (2nd), 2 stolen bases (1st/tie), and a .378 on-base percentage (2nd)

Texas’ victory left it one win away from a second straight World Series berth. Game 5 takes place today (Thursday) at 4:00pm ET on Fox.

# # #
Planning to buy something on Amazon.com? Use our Amazon link (below) and Jewish Baseball News will get a small commission. It costs you nothing!