Game 4 looked to be one of the most evenly matched of the series, with both teams throwing their No. 4 starters. But Andy Sonnanstine was up to the challenge, while Tim Wakefield had just about nothing, allowing the Rays to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Needing to win only one of the next three games, Tampa Bay is in pretty much the same situation that the Phillies are in, with their ace, James Shields, going in Game 5, and then the final two games at home. That doesn't mean it's over -- as we've seen with two Red Sox teams in the past five years, no deficit is insurmountable -- but the Rays are in great shape.
The biggest surprise isn't that the Rays are winning, it's how they're doing it. Only an average offensive team during the regular season, they've exploded over the last three games, scoring a total of 31 runs. Tonight's onslaught was led by three homers off of Wakefield in the first three innings, vaulting them to a 5-0 lead before you could blink. Evan Longoria's homer was his fifth of the postseason, setting a new rookie record. Just about everyone got in on the fun for Tampa, as Carl Crawford was 5-for-5 with three extra-base hits, and Willy Aybar added four hits and five RBI.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-15-2008 @ 12:06AM
Steven Fanale said...
I HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE AND BELIEVE ME THIS IS THE PERFECT SITUATION FOR THE RED SOX. THEY WILL NOT ONLY DEFEAT THE TAMPA BAY RAYS BUT THEY WILL GO ON TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES AS WELL. WHEN THE SERIES WAS TIED AT A GAME APIECE THE TEAM THAT WON THE NEXT TWO GAMES WHICH IN THIS CASE WAS TAMPA BAY LOST THE NEXT THREE BECAUSE THEY RAN OUT OF GAS. I AM CONIVNCED THAT THE RED SOX WILL WIN A CLOSE ONE AT FENWAY ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND THEN BEAT THE TAMPA BAY RAYS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. IT WILL NOT BE EASY BUT THE SOX WILL DO IT. I KNOW THAT THEY WILL. TRUST ME, I HAVE DONE IT AS WELL AND I KNOW HOW TO DO IT. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER PANICK. A CRISIS SITUATION WILL BRING OUT THE BEST IN THE RED SOX AND THEIR FANS KNOW IT. SO SIT BACK AND RELAX AND WATCH THE DRAMA UNFOLD BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES.
STEVEN M.FANALE
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10-15-2008 @ 6:45PM
Vickie said...
Steven... From your comments regarding the Red Sox, I see you have been smoking some of that Tampa Gold up north in Boston.
10-15-2008 @ 5:16AM
hlevine said...
poor delusional boston fans this will not be your year.
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10-15-2008 @ 9:24AM
Scott said...
Wouldn't the "perfect situation" for the Red Sox after playing 4 games of the series to have won the series 4-0?
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10-17-2008 @ 4:08PM
JohnnyComeLately said...
Red Sox Nation wonders why everyone hates them so much.
Steven is the perfect example...idiots still have to win 2 more games, but yet in their minds they've already won the damn World Series.
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