The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MINOR league baseball playoffs opened in the Dominican Summer League with Keithron Moss, Courtney Smith and the DSL Rangers 1 taking an early series lead in round one.

Moss finished 2-3, including one triple, one RBI and two runs scored in the Rangers' 9-8 win over the DSL Cardinals Blue in the Dominican Republic yesterday.

The Rangers 1 took a 2-0 lead in the series. They took a game one decision, 3-2 in Monday's series opener.

The Rangers completed the regular season 48-24 and clinched the Dominican Summer League North division title. Both Rangers teams in the Dominican Republic advanced to the playoffs as DSL Rangers 2 (49-21) took the San Pedro division title.

Both Moss and Smith competed in their first seasons with the Rangers organisation since they signed during the last International Signing Period.

Moss, the 17-year-old shortstop, appeared in 51 games and hit .196 with 11 doubles, 23 RBI, 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases.

Smith, a 21-year-old catcher, appeared in 17 games and recorded two hits and two RBI on the season. He went 1-4 and got his first stolen base of the season in a 9-3 loss to the DSL Rays 2.

The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985.

The league consists of 38 teams in five divisions. Each team is affiliated with a different major league franchise with eight organisations fielding two teams: the Astros, Mariners, Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Reds, Red Sox and Yankees.

Six teams make the playoffs, the winners of each division plus the best runner-up. The two division champions with the best winning percentages receive byes to the semi-finals.