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Red Sox continue World Series run vs. upstart Rays

Oct 10, 2008 - 1:15 PM American League Championship Series Game One

Boston at Tampa Bay 8:37 p.m. EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- That the Boston Red Sox are making a run at another World Series appearance shouldn't surprise anyone. However, the team standing in their way has stunned the entire baseball world.

The Red Sox begin their quest for a second straight World Series title against the upstart Tampa Bay Rays in Game One of the American League Championship Series on Friday.

Boston has become somewhat of a dynasty, having won two world championships in the past four years after suffering through an 86-year title drought. The Red Sox easily dispatched of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - owners of the best record in baseball - in four games to advance to the ALCS.

Rookie Jed Lowrie hit walk-off single in the ninth inning in Monday's series-clinching 3-2 win.

Based on Boston's postseason success, one would think it would be hosting Game One. However, that isn't the case thanks to a young, energetic Rays team that has defied the odds.

Tampa Bay, which had not won more than 70 games in its 10-year existence, won 97 games and edged Boston by two games for its first AL East crown.

"It's quite an achievement to get here from where we have come from over the last couple of years, to get to this point so soon. It speaks for the entire organization," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

The Rays weren't satisfied in just reaching the postseason, and the Chicago White Sox found out the hard way. Tampa Bay got clutch hits from Akinori Iwamura, B.J. Upton and rookie Evan Longoria in bouncing the White Sox from the ALDS in four games.

Upton smashed a pair of home runs and Carlos Pena drove in two runs as the Rays punched their ticket to the ALCS with a 6-2 victory on Monday.

"What I keep on saying is the reason that we're successful is we're focused on the present," first baseman Carlos Pena said. "We're extremely good at that. That's unusual because we're an extremely young team."

Tampa Bay may be young and inexperienced, but it enters this series with a ton of confidence and home-field advantage. In a tight season series - the Rays won, 10-8 - home field was extremely important; the home team went 15-3 in the series, with the Rays winning eight of the nine meetings here.

Why has it been so lopsided?

"I think that home-field advantage sometimes takes over," Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz said. "I think that's what's been happening. If you get to the end of the game tied or down by one run, they can drive you crazy. Back home, we can do the same thing."

The teams have had some bad blood over the years, and righthander James Shields (1-0 4.26 ERA), who allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 6-4 win over Chicago on Thursday, was part of the most recent incident.

The 26-year-old Shields ignited a bench-clearing brawl in June when he hit Coco Crisp in Boston. The melee resulted in eight suspensions.

"We had the one incident this year. That to me also is ancient history," Maddon said. "The rivalry is being built because we're good. This year truly is building into a legitimate rivalry, whereas in the past I think it was more fabricated."

Shields has been dominant against Boston here, going 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in two starts - a far cry from his 21.21 ERA he posted in 4 2/3 innings at Fenway.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox managed to beat Anaheim without much help from ace Josh Beckett (oblique), who was unable to start Game One and was ineffective in Game Three.

Boston will start righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-0, 5.40 ERA), followed by Beckett on Saturday.

Matsuzaka allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings, while throwing 108 pitches, in a 7-5 in Game Two of the ALDS on Friday. He has not lasted more than five innings in any of his last three outings.

"As far as any one of our starters that gets the ball, I have confidence in all of them," Boston catcher Jason Varitek told the team's official web site. "They've been part of this team winning all year."