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Red Sox try to avoid elimination again

Oct 18, 2008 - 10:05 AM American League Championship Series Rays lead 3-2

Boston at Tampa Bay 8:07 p.m. EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox seem to play their best when facing elimination.

The Red Sox hope to continue that trend on Saturday when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Six of the American League Championship Series.

Boston rallied from a seven-run deficit during Thursday's Game Five, earning an 8-7 victory and narrowed the Rays' lead to three-games-to-two in the best-of-seven series.

The comeback was the second largest in postseason history and started in the seventh inning when rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie reached on a leadoff double off Grant Balfour, who retired the next two batters. But, Coco Crisp kept alive the inning with a single to left field.

Dustin Pedroia followed with an RBI single before David Ortiz snapped a 61 at-bat postseason homerless drought with a three-run blast into the right field stands to bring the Red Sox within 7-4.

J.D. Drew's two-run homer and Crisp's RBI single in the eighth inning tied the game.

Lefthander J.P. Howell came on in the ninth and retired the first two batters before Kevin Youkilis reached on an infield single to third base and advanced to second on a throwing error by Evan Longoria.

The Rays chose to walk Jason Bay intentionally, bringing up Drew, who ripped a line drive over Gabe Gross' head in right field for the game-winning hit.

The Red Sox, who made history when they became the first team to overcome a three-games-to-none deficit to win the ALCS against the New York Yankees in 2004, are trying to come back from being down three games to one for the second consecutive postseason. They accomplished the feat against the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS last year.

"This is a different team, though, every team is different, but there are guys in that clubhouse that have (overcome a deficit), which I think we will try to draw upon," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Rays manager Joe Maddon isn't concerned about his young and inexperienced team's ability to shake off the devastating loss.

"They're defending champs, they've got the heart of a champion, and they came back (on Thursday) and they beat us. But that's where it's got to end," Maddon said. "I know we're young, and again, I know we lack experience in a lot of ways, but we're gaining it right now.

"My experience with our group is that we've been very resilient all year. And furthermore, like I said, I've talked about this just being the beginning, and I'm really liking the way our guys are going about this whole process right now."

James Shields tries to push Tampa Bay into the World Series for the first time. Shields was scheduled to start Game Five, but Maddon elected to go with Scott Kazmir instead so the bullpen would have a day off in case it was needed early in the game.

That wasn't the case, however, as Kazmir pitched six scoreless innings, surrendering two hits while striking out seven. Shields looks to duplicate that effort after he suffered the loss in Game One when he allowed two runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings en route to the 2-0 setback.

The 26-year-old righthander, who is called "Big-Game James" by his teammates, isn't changing his approach.

"We're going to prepare the same way," Shields said. "We're going to try to make adjustments as we go and do what we've been doing all season long."

Countering for the Red Sox will be Josh Beckett, who has endured a miserable postseason after suffering a strained oblique at the end of the campaign.

Beckett allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings in his only start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS. He followed that dismal outing with an even worse performance in Game Two against Tampa Bay as he was pounded for eight runs and nine hits, including three home runs, lasting 4 1/3 frames. Beckett did not factor in decision as the Red Sox lost, 9-8, in 11 innings.

"I don't think you take too many positives away from it, obviously, with the outcome being what it is," Beckett said of his last start. "I don't know, I think you have a lot of examples of adjustments that you need to make. I think that that's what you take from it."

The ugly playoff results are uncommon for Beckett, who entered the postseason with a 6-2 record and 1.73 ERA with three shutouts in 10 games - nine starts.

"We didn't see his (Beckett's) best stuff," Francona said. "I think we all hope you're going to, but I don't know if that was realistic or not. But again, the more he pitches -- I mean, we love this guy. He's one of the best competitors in the game.

"So whatever he can give us, we'll take. And hopefully it's good enough to win."