Rangers advance to World Series with 6-1 victory over Yankees

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For 50 years, the franchise was the epitome of frustration and the butt of insiders’ jokes.

And now the Rangers have earned the last laugh with their first trip to the World Series after a thoroughly convincing 6-1 victory over the defending champion and playoff-proud Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

The trip ends 39 years of franchise frustration in Texas, as well as 11 in Washington, and was the first time the Rangers could pour postseason champagne -- or, in the case of Josh Hamilton, Ginger Ale -- in their home clubhouse.

All that’s left to decide is whether the Rangers will play the Phillies or Giants starting Wednesday.

“They show up every single day and leave their heart on the field,” Manager Ron Washington said of his team. “The only thing I’ve ever told them is the only thing that matters is what you believe inside the clubhouse, not what goes on outside.”

During the postgame celebration, players acted like they had done this many times, even spraying fans with bubbly as they toured the field

Friday’s unlikely hero was starting pitcher Colby Lewis, who was in Japan last year. He didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning and surrendered only three hits and three walks in his eight innings. He even struck out out the side before letting Neftali Feliz finish.

Lewis gave up only only two runs in six innings in Game 2, also in Texas.

“He showed me exactly what everyone showed me from when we started in 2007,” Washington said. “He gave us everything he had and he showed the heart and he showed the grit.”

After 11 years with the Rangers, third baseman Michael Young didn’t have any trouble putting into words what it meant.

“It means the World Series is coming to Texas,” he said. “It’s worth the wait.”

“To be honest with you, in the ninth when (last batter) A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) was up, I was tearing up,” said ALCS most valuable player Hamilton, who tied an LCS record with five intentional walks and finished the series with four home runs and seven RBIs. “I’m so excited for this team, this city, something that never has happened here before. It’s something nobody can take away from you.”

The Rangers gave breathing room for Lewis with a two-out, four-run fifth inning, right after the Yankees had tied it 1-1 on a controversial umpiring decision.

Vladimir Guerrero had the big hit, a booming two-run double after a walk to Hamilton. That ended the night for Yankees starter Phil Hughes, but not for the Rangers, as Nelson Cruz greeted reliever David Robertson with a two-run homer.

Hughes was pounded for 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings in his two starts at Texas.

The Yankees scored only in the fifth inning and may have had the help of home plate umpire Brian Gorman, who allowed Rodriguez to score from third base on a pitch that appeared to hit Nick Swisher but was instead ruled a wild pitch.

And now that franchise has many off-season questions, not the least of which is what to do about a team that hit .201 in the ALCS and has many old players on its roster.

And then there’s the expiring contract of Manager Joe Girardi, who said he “hoped” to be back and that “it has been a real treat to work here.”

“It’s not a lot of fun watching other teams celebrate,” he said. “They out-hit us, they out-pitched us, out-played us and they beat us.”

dvandyck@tribune.com