Since these playoffs started almost a month ago, every turn of events has brought a new question for the young Rays. How would they handle the pressure of the playoffs? They handily beat the White Sox in the first two games of the ALDS. How would they handle a playoff loss? They bounced right back to finish the White Sox off. Would they be nervous against the Red Sox? They ran out to a 3-1 lead. How could they possibly bounce back from their Game 5 meltdown in the ALCS? They finished the Red Sox off in seven.After last night's weird and wild 5-4 loss, the Rays now have to deal with the chips being down early in a series for the first time in these playoffs. Winning Game 7 of the ALCS was one thing; Matt Garza was on the mound and the Rays were at home. Coming back in this World Series is entirely different. They're now on the road facing a 2-1 deficit with Andy Sonnanstine on the mound in Game 4, then against Cole Hamels in Game 5. They're by no means out of this series, but Game 4 is almost a must-win situation for them on the road.
The good news is that, as I outlined above, the Rays have responded to every challenge that's faced them this October. They're only down 2-1 in the Series right now and the Phillies have a long ways to go to get to four wins. The Rays only need one win in the next two to send things back to Tampa. Still, they've got to do better than five hits in 6 1/3 innings against Jamie Moyer and the mental errors that lead to the winning run being scored in the ninth without a ball ever leaving the infield. If they can't, they may not see the Trop again.
