Oct 21 2008
Time to throw out those old worn-out Red Sox
In the 2007 ALCS, the Boston Red Sox made a heroic comeback against the Cleveland Indians, returning from a 3-1 deficit to win the AL pennant. But that was last year.
This year, Boston was back again, and a similar scenario seemed to be unfolding. After going up three games to one, one won by a 13-4 score, the Tampa Bay Rays blew a seven run lead in the seventh inning. The Red Sox went on to win that final game at Fenway Park, sending the series back to Tropicana Field for the decisive game(s). Would it be 2007 over again? Would the Rays blow it like the hapless Indians? Nope.
Things did look dicey for a while. Even though the Rays had an off day to get back on stride, and take advantage of playing at home, they lost game 6 to Boston by a score of 4-2. So it all came down to one game. Unlike some of the slugfests in the series, the final game was a low-scoring affair. The Rays did manage to build a fragile 3-1 lead in the late innings. Then it suddenly looked like Boston might come through. They put two men on base in the 7th, but weren’t able to bring either home. The 8th was even worse, with the Sox loading the bases. But Rays’ reliever David Price stepped up and struck out J.D. Drew to end the inning. And then he came back in the ninth and retired the side, giving Tampa Bay its first AL pennant.
Those who are as tired of the Red Sox as they are of the NY Yankees can now celebrate. The Red Sox won’t be coming back this year, and hopefully, for many years to come.
