Rays Topple Red Sox, 3-1, In Game 7
posted October 19, 2008
) Willy Aybar |
Sunday night's contest was the 25th and final Rays-Red Sox installment of 2008, and obviously the most meaningful, as it earned the Rays a trip to the Fall Classic, where they will meet the Phillies in Game 1 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
Garza started for the Rays and Dustin Pedroia homered against him with one out in the first inning to put the Red Sox up, 1-0. Garza then added six zeroes to his line before leaving the game after shortstop Jason Bartlett booted Alex Cora's routine ground ball to start the eighth.
Surviving the eighth would be the key moment of the game for the Rays. Dan Wheeler took over for Garza and allowed a single to Coco Crisp before Pedroia flew out
to left for the first out. J.P. Howell then entered the game and got David Ortiz to hit into a fielder's choice for the second out.
Rays manager Joe Maddon then called for Chad Bradford to pitch to Kevin Youkilis, who drew a walk to load the bases. David Price became the fifth and final Rays pitcher of the inning when the 23-year-old rookie left-hander was brought in to pitch to J.D. Drew, and he struck him out to end the inning.
Jon Lester started for the Red Sox and was perfect through three innings before Akinori Iwamura singled to lead off the fourth. After Carlos Pena hit into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning, Evan Longoria doubled down the right-field line and Pena scored from first to tie the score at 1.
Aybar led off the Rays' fifth with a double to left and Dioner Navarro followed with an infield single. Rocco Baldelli then singled home Aybar to put the Rays up, 2-1.
The Red Sox tried to answer in the sixth when Pedroia walked with one out. But Garza rose to the occasion by striking out Ortiz, and Navarro threw out Pedroia attempting to steal to complete the double play.
Aybar then homered off Lester to lead off the seventh to push the Rays' lead to 3-1.
____________
Adapted from MLB.com
American League Championship Series
Game 1 Boston @ Tampa Bay Fri. Oct. 10. Boston wins, 2-0
Game 2 Boston @ Tampa Bay Sat. Oct. 11. Tampa Bay wins, 9-8
Game 3 Tampa Bay @ Boston Mon. Tampa Bay wins, 9-1
Game 4 Tampa Bay @ Boston Tue. Oct. 14. Tampa Bay wins, 13-4
Game 5 Tampa Bay @ Boston Thur. Boston wins, 8-7
Game 6 Boston @ Tampa Bay Sat. Boston wins, 4-2.
Game 7 Boston @ Tampa Bay Sun. Tampa Bay wins, 3-1
) Matt Garza |
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