The 2010 American League Division Series (ALDS) were two best-of-five game series to determine the participating teams in the 2010 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth "Wild Card" team (the team with the best record among teams not winning their division) played in two series from October 6 to 12. TBS televised all games in the United States.
Under MLB's playoff format, no two teams from the same division were matched up in the Division Series, regardless of whether their records would normally indicate such a matchup. Home field advantage went to the team with the better regular-season record with the exception of the wild card team, which defers home field advantage regardless of record. The matchups for the 2010 ALDS were:
(1) Tampa Bay Rays (Eastern Division champions, 96–66) vs. (3) Texas Rangers (West Division champions, 90–72): Rangers win series, 3–2. (2) Minnesota Twins (Central Division champions, 94–68) vs. (4) New York Yankees (Wild Card qualifier, 95–67): Yankees win series, 3–0.
This was the second consecutive season and fourth season overall in which the Twins and Yankees met in the ALDS; the Yankees won all their previous series, 3–1 in 2003 and 2004, and 3–0 in 2009. The Rays and Rangers had never met previously in the postseason, with Tampa Bay making only their second postseason appearance in franchise history (after 2008) and Texas making their fourth appearance (and first since 1999).
The Rangers' win was the first postseason series victory in franchise history; the series also became the first MLB postseason series in which the visiting team won every game. On the other side, the Yankees extended their postseason dominance over the Twins to four consecutive series wins.
The Rangers went on to defeat the Yankees in the ALCS, then lose the 2010 World Series to the National League champion San Francisco Giants.
Matchups
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
Tampa Bay vs. Texas
Game 1
Rangers ace Cliff Lee dominated the American League East champions in Game 1. He struck out ten while allowing five hits. During one stretch, he retired 16 of 17 batters before giving up a home run to Ben Zobrist in the seventh. The win also snapped a nine-game postseason losing streak that began in 1996 for the Rangers.
Longtime Ranger Michael Young appeared in his first playoff game after playing in 1,508 games in his career. Only Randy Winn has played more games (1,717) without getting a shot in the postseason. Young was 0-for-4.
The Rangers got on the board in the second off of Rays ace David Price when Ian Kinsler hit a leadoff single and scored on Jeff Francoeur's double. After a strikeout, Francoeur scored on Bengie Molina's single. Nelson Cruz and Molina hit home runs in the third and fourth respectively and Vladimir Guerrero hit an RBI double in the fifth. In the ninth inning, pitching in a non-save situation, Rangers closer Neftalí Feliz walked the first two batters, but then settled down and induced a lineout from Ben Zobrist before striking out Reid Brignac and Matt Joyce to end the game.
Game 2
The Rays still had no answers for both the Rangers' starting pitching and their offense. Matt Treanor was hit by a pitch, and eventually scored on Shields' pickoff error to first base in the third. Ian Kinsler hit a homer in the fourth to make it 2–0.
In the top of the fifth inning, with one out and Julio Borbon on base, Elvis Andrus hit a single. Shields was pulled, replaced by Chad Qualls. After a controversial checked swing call, Michael Young hit a three-run home run to extend the lead to 5–0. Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected after arguing that Young's prior swing on the 2–2 pitch should have been called strike three. Ian Kinsler's RBI single later in the same inning made it 6–0 Rangers.
The Rays had their best chances in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ben Zobrist walked then advanced to third base on Willy Aybar's double. However, Kelly Shoppach and Matt Joyce both struck out, then Jason Bartlett hit a fly ball to center field to end the threat.
C. J. Wilson pitched shutout innings for Texas, giving up two hits and striking out seven while walking two.
Game 3
In seeking their first franchise postseason home game win and series sweep, the Rangers sent Colby Lewis to the mound to face the Rays' Matt Garza. The Rays were counting on the 2008 ALCS MVP to come through once again and prevent a sweep.