Friday, October 17, 2008

ALCS returns to the Trop

The Boston Red Sox staged an amazing late rally to beat the Tampa Bay Devil*Rays 8-7 and continue the best of seven American League Championship series. Tampa Bay leads the series 3-2 as the series returns to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Three defensive failures by the Rays helped Boston get back into the game from a 7-0 deficit as Evan Longoria, B. J. Upton and Gabe Gross each failed to deliver in key situations late in the game.

Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir delivered however, extinguishing criticisms that giving him the start in Fenway Park provided the Red Sox an opportunity to win the series.

I place little credence in the notion that this loss somehow puts Boston in the driver's seat. That said, this next stage in the series provides the Rays another opportunity to play like veterans. Instead of repeating the breakdowns from this game, the team needs to learn from the mistakes and avoid them in key situations. The Rays are in the driver's seat. This team loses the ALCS only if it fails to play near its potential.

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