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| 19th October, 2008 - 11:43 pm | Andrew Perna/RealGM - The Rays defeated the Red Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS, 3-1, on Sunday night to advance to their first-ever World Series.
Matt Garza started for Tampa Bay, and pitched seven strong innings of one-run baseball. He struck out nine, walked three, and gave up just two hits.
Garza was named the 2008 ALCS MVP.
After Alex Cora reached in the eighth inning on an error by shortstop Jason Bartlett to start the inning, Tampa manager Joe Maddon used Dan Wheeler, J.P. Howell, Chad Bradford, and David Price to get out of the inning unscathed.
Price then remained on the mound in the top of ninth to preserve the win for the Rays, sending them to their first World Series in a season of firsts for Tampa Bay.
Dustin Pedroia put Boston on the board in the first inning with a solo shot off Garza, and Jon Lester was in complete control through the game's first three innings.
The Rays rallied in the fourth, though, as Evan Longoria hit an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.
Rocco Baldelli then hit an RBI single in the fifth to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.
Lester pitched seven innings, struck out eight, and walked none.
However, he wasn't able to get out of the game before Willy Aybar hit a solo home run in the seventh, pushing Tampa Bay's lead to 3-1 heading into the eighth inning.
Boston loaded the bases in the top of the eighth, but a combination of five pitchers retired the Sox without a single run coming across the plate.
After Hideki Okajima retired the Rays in order, Price trotted back out onto the mound for Tampa Bay with the Sox down to their last three outs.
Price walked Jason Bay on eight pitches but struck out Mark Kotsay and Jason Varitek to move the Rays to within one out of the World Series.
Jed Lowrie came to the plate, pinch-hitting for Cora, and grounded out to second to end Boston's season.
The Rays will host the Phillies on Wednesday in Game 1 of the World Series. [READ] |
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