Cliff Lee, Rangers Top Rays 5-1 in ALDS Game 1

Cliff Lee pitched seven impressive innings and Nelson Cruz and Bengie Molina homered off David Price, leading the Texas Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening game of the AL playoffs.

Lee matched a postseason best with 10 strikeouts Wednesday while allowing five hits - one after the second inning. During one dominating stretch, he retired 16 of 17 batters before giving up Ben Zobrist's homer in the seventh.

Lee improved to 5-0 in six career postseason starts. He went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, including 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA against the New York Yankees in the World Series.

The Rangers ace lost to the Rays three times during the regular season, however the AL East champions were no match for the left-hander this time. The Rangers stopped a nine-game postseason losing streak that began in 1996.

Rangers Vs. Rays Box Score
MLB Playoffs: 10 Burning Questions
CBSSports.com: Rangers Vs. Rays Matchup