Red Sox Overcome 7-run Deficit, Top Rays 8-7 To Force Game 6
Friday, October 17th, 2008 | MLB, Sports
The Boston Red Sox overcame the largest deficit in an elimination game in MLB playoffs history with an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bays Rays on Thursday, October 16th. When Red Sox relievers Manny Delcarmen and Jonathan Papelbon gave up 2 runs in the 7th inning, the Rays increased their lead over the Red Sox to 7-0 after 6 1/2 innings of play. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Red Sox used a 2-out RBI single from Dustin Pedroia and then a mammoth 3-run home run from David Ortiz (his first home run of the 2008 post-season and his 1st post-season home run in over 80 at-bats) to cut the lead to 7-4. After Papelbon pitched a perfect top of the 8th inning with 2 strikeouts, the Red Sox cut the lead to 7-6 with a leadoff walk to Jason Bay and a monster home run to deep right field by J.D. Drew. Rays reliever Dan Wheeler was able to retire the next 2 batters, but eventually gave up the tying 7th run on a double by Mark Kotsay and an RBI-single by Coco Crips. Just like that, the Red Sox scored 7 runs in 2 innings and shifted the momentum back in their favor. Red Sox reliever Jon Masterson worked a stressful 9th inning where he allowed the go-ahead run to reach 2nd base with less than 2 outs. But Masterson induced a Carlos Pena double-play ball to quell the threat. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Rays reliever J.P. Howell retired Pedroia and Ortiz without incident, but an infield single by Kevin Youkilis on which Rays third baseman Evan Longoria made a costly throwing error set the stage for the miraculous comeback. With Youkilis at 2nd base, the Rays decided to walk Jason Bay to face J.D. Drew. And once again, Drew delivered the crushing blow with a game-winning line drive single over the head of Gabe Gross to drive in the winning run. Howell took the loss for the Rays and Masterson earned the win for the Red Sox. The Rays wasted a solid outing from Scott Kazmir – 6 shutout innings in which he walked 3, gave up 2 hits and struck out 7. Only his high 111 pitch-count took him out of a game they desperately needed him to finish. Once Kazmir left the game, the Red Sox tagged the Rays bullpen for 8 earbed runs on 9 hits. Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzakadid not have his best performance – he lasted only 4 innings giving up 5 earned runs on 5 hits – including 3 home runs by B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria.
Game 6 of the ALCS is set for 8:07PM on Saturday, October 18th. Josh Becket will take the bump for the Red Sox while the Rays will counter with James Shields. Beckett was ineffective in Game 2 of the ALCS – giving up 8 earned runs including 3 home runs in only 4/13 innings of work. Shields pitched well in Game 1 of the ALCS – 2 earned runs, 6 hits and 6 strikeouts in 7 1/13 innings of work – but took the loss as Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka out-dueled him. Will the Red Sox be able to continue their magical runs in recent post-season history? Only time will tell whether we have another magical story with a Tampa Bay Rays appearance in the World Series, or a 3rd World Series appearance by the Red Sox in only 5 years…
