To say that the Tampa Bay Rays are running on all cylinders right now might be the understatement of the year.
For the second consecutive night, the Rays pounded the Boston Red Sox, winning Game Four by a score of 13-4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.
Carl Crawford and Willy Aybar combined to go 9-for-10, with four runs scored, seven RBI, two doubles, a triple, a home run, and two stolen bases. Crawford tied an ALCS record for hits in a game with his 5-for-5 performance, coming within a home run of hitting for the cycle.
The Rays scored early and often, as Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria both homered in the top of the first inning, their second, and third long flies’ of the series, respectively.
Boston starter Tim Wakefield (0-1) was unable to recover, getting touched for five runs on six hits in only 2.2 innings of work. Wakefield added to the Red Sox’s starting pitching woes, joining unlikely candidates Josh Beckett and Jon Lester on the list.
Tampa Bay scored twice more in the third inning, and once in the fifth before blowing the game wide open with a five-run, sixth-inning outburst.
Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine (1-0) looked masterful, limiting the Red Sox to four runs on six hits in 7.1 innings of work. Sonnanstine surrendered a solo shot to Kevin Cash in the third inning but settled down beautifully after that.
With the exception of Akinori Iwamura and Fernando Perez, every Ray recorded at-least one hit, and with the exception of Dioner Navarro and Perez, every Ray scored at-least one run. Manager Joe Maddon was quoted after the game as saying, “This was the best game we’ve had offensively all year long.”
What a time to have that happen, huh?
Consider this: In the past two games, at Fenway I might add, the Rays have outscored the World Champion Boston Red Sox 22-to-five, and outhit them a whopping 27-to-14.
Both Rays starters recorded wins, while both Boston starters recorded losses.
In Games Four and Five, B.J. Upton, Pena, Longoria, and Crawford have combined to go 14-for-34 (.411), with 14 runs scored and 12 RBI. Compare that to a combined 7-for-30 (.233), with two runs scored, and three RBI from Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Jason Bay.
Boston has come back from this exact 3-1 deficit in the ALCS before (see 2007 playoffs against Cleveland), but needless to say, they’re in some serious trouble. I don’t think they’ve faced a team as hot as the Rays in any of their recent playoff runs.
During the ninth inning, with the Rays up 13-4, TBS broadcaster and long time manager Buck Martinez questioned, “Who are these guys?”
These are the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, and they are here to stay.
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about 1 month ago
I voted no because if Matsuzaka doesn't lose game five, I don't think Beckett has it in him to win game six.... but anything is possible with the Red Sox.
from about 1 month ago
True words Adam..Thanks for the comment
about 1 month ago
A nice recap of a pivotal game in this ALCS. As hot as the Rays are, any team is capable of beating another in October.
I know that the Boston faithful will point to the comebacks made by the Sox against Cleveland last year and the Yankees in 2004, but this is not that same Red Sox team. They don't have Manny protecting Papi, the one-two punch of Schilling + Beckett, or people stepping up like Nixon, Cabrera and Damon did in that 2004 ALCS.
Ironically, the fate of the '08 Red Sox lies with Matsuzaka- the pitcher who so many said was not deserving of the hype and cash afforded to him...the same pitcher who many said was the most expensive second or third starter in history. Yet, he is the ONLY Sox pitcher that seems to know how to stymie these Rays' bats.
This next game will be the Rays' second look at him in the postseason. If they hold to their pattern of success, the Rays will have made adjustments to the Japanese media sensation. Likewise, I look to Dice-K to mix it up just a little more and pitch a bit more to the inside to keep these Rays from sitting on dead-red. After they were baffled by Dice-K in game one, the Rays hitters said, "he could throw any variety of pitches at any time". This kept these young bats honest at the plate; I will be anxious to see whether or not the Rays come out hacking and meeting the ball where it's pitched OR sitting until they get the pitch they want.
If they do the latter, I think the Sox can leave their bags packed for Florida.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Abner, and very nice insight..I think it calls for an article of your own.
about 1 month ago
I'm a Boston fan, but you have to love what you are seeing in the Rays. Good pitching, good hitting up and down the line-up and a bunch of scrappy dudes ready to brawl if need be. I got no problems with them representing the AL. Good read.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks RK..I agree on all fronts.
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