Texas eliminates Tampa Bay with 3 homeruns by Adrian Beltre

SAINT PETERSBURG. The Dominican, Adrian Beltre, connected for three homeruns one after the other and the Texas Rangers reached the Championship Series of the American League as they defeated, 4-3, the Tampa Bay Rays.

Beltre is just the seventh player that connected three homeruns in a post-season game. With this effort he led the Rangers to finish the best of seven series in just four games.

Texas put an end to the notable sprint by the Rays that allowed them to capture the Wild Card slot in the American League.

Ian Kinsler opened the game for Texas with a homerun, on the second pitch from the rookie Jeremy Hellickson.

Matt Harrison, who played a role as a reliever in the defeat that the Rangers suffered in the first play off game of the series, threw for five innings to get the victory in his first playoff start.

The Dominican reliever, Neftali Feliz allowed a run in the ninth frame, before closing out the game with his third save of the series.

Beltre began the game with just one hit in 11 at bats. "In the first games the pitchers were tremendous," said Beltre. "Something changed, I felt more comfortable at the plate." This is just the second post-season appearance in Beltre's career, and will be the first time that he will play in a championship series, after he lost with the Dodgers in 2004.

The Rangers will try to renew their championship crown of the American League and go on to the World Series.

Beltre went 3-4 with 3 homeruns; Nelson Cruz was 0-4.