Young Rays show no fear of Fenway

Oct 15, 2008 - 5:34 AM By Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Rays have never been one win away from the World Series. And the Fenway Park crowd took every opportunity Tuesday night to remind them of how elusive that one win can be.

As their Boston Red Sox were being pounded, 13-4, in Game Four of the American League Championship Series, fans started chanting in the direction of Rays left field Carl Crawford.

"I know this one guy was yelling, 'Go ask Derek Jeter, go ask Derek Jeter,'" Crawford said. "And he was yelling it real loud. I know everybody heard him. I'm pretty sure there's going to be more of that."

Jeter captained the New York Yankees in 2004, when they enjoyed a similar rout of the Red Sox, 19-8, in Game Three of the ALCS, only to make the wrong kind of history when they lost the next four to Boston.

Last year, the Indians were also up three games-to-one when the Red Sox reeled off three straight wins en route to their second World Series title in four years.

"We were getting (reminders) already in the stands, so we know we're going to get reminded a lot about it. So we've just got to go out and play our game like we've been doing," Crawford said.

B.J. Upton has helped spark the red-hot Rays offense, which Tuesday became the first team ever to score at least nine runs in three consecutive games in a single League Championship Series.

"We just can't take it for granted," Upton said. "We've got to keep doing the same things we've been doing, playing team baseball and doing the little things and we should be alright."

Evan Longoria is the first rookie to hit five home runs in a postseason, and his streak of three games with a long ball tied the mark set by the Yankees' Bernie Williams in 2001.

"It's gone very well," Longoria said. "Obviously, in my eyes, a little bit better than expected. Just the offensive onslaught we've put on the last couple of days has been pretty unbelievable. We still can't let down. Like I said (Monday), we've seen these guys come back from 3-1 and even 3-0. (Thursday) is a going to be a big day. It will take a little pressure off if we end this thing (Thursday)."

Even with the crowd chanting to the Rays, Fenway Park has hardly been the nightmare for Tampa Bay, which has outscored the Red Sox, 22-5, in the first two games in Boston.

"To be honest with you, even during the regular season, I've never heard this place that quiet," Upton said. "I think that was our goal, was to take the crowd out of it. The more we jump on them early, the more we're able to do that. So hopefully, we can come out Thursday and do the same thing."

With one more win, the Rays can become the fourth expansion team this decade to reach the World Series, joining Arizona (2001), Florida (2003) and Colorado (2007).

"We're really excited right now," Crawford said. "It's right there for us to get and I just hope we can get it."