Yo Adrian!

Beltre joined elite company Tuesday with
3 solo home runs at the Trop.

With the Texas Rangers one win away from their second straight trip to the American League Championship Series, offseason acquisition Adrian Beltre carried the load with a Reggie-esk performance Tuesday afternoon in Tampa Bay.

Beltre homered on his first three trips to the plate against two Rays' rookie hurlers, almost single-handedly punching Texas' ticket to the next round.

The 32-year-old native of Santo Domingo came into the game 1-11 in the series and a .214 lifetime hitter in the postseason, never recording an extra-base hit. That all changed in St. Pete after accumulating 12 total bases in the team's 4-3 victory. Beltre is the sixth player in postseason history to hit three home runs in a single game and it's only the seventh it has been done. The mystical Babe Ruth is the only player to accomplish that feat twice, both coming in World Series games.

Prior to signing a six-year $96 million contract with the Rangers this winter, Beltre had been coming off one of his best seasons of his career after four sub par seasons in Seattle. Despite batting .321 with 28 home runs, 102 RBIs and a career-high 49 doubles with the Red Sox in 2010, he was pushed out.

After Boston acquired All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego and home-grown Kevin Youkilis set to return to his original position at the hot corner, Beltre was the odd man out.

Looks like their loss.

With the Red Sox sitting home after an epic September collapse, Beltre, who has historical has only played well during contract years, has enjoyed a fantastic first season in Arlington. He hit 32 home runs and drove in 105 RBI for Ron Washington's Rangers, making his straight All-Star appearance while playing a Gold Glove third base.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler got the scoring started with a leadoff home run in the first inning, hitting one of the four solo shots by the Rangers in their series-clinching Game 4 victory.

Left-hander Matt Harrison. who was left off the postseason roster a year ago, was sharp earning his first postseason victory with five quality innings and matching his career high in strike outs with nine.

As for the Tampa Bay Rays, the clock finally struck midnight on their Cinderella run.

It is the second straight season the Rangers have ousted Tampa Bay from the postseason in the ALDS. It was the Rays inability to win postseason home games that eventually did them in. With their loss Tuesday, that ultimately ended their fairy tale season, they have now lost five straight home playoff games to Texas dating back to last season.

Beltre and Co. look to continue to ride the postseason wave and await their opponent for the ALCS.