The Rays are in the World Series???

I admit I am shocked. Down 7-0 in game 5, the Red Sox pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in history. 7th inning, 2 outs, a couple of "meaningless" singles, and then an Ortiz 3-run HR. At that point I said it was over.....not just the game, but the season. I've seen this before. I big Ortiz HR or a couple of "meaningless" hits catapulting a desperate team to a WS victory. I said the Red Sox would not lose a game the rest of the postseason. How do you recover from being on the cusp of the World Series and then completely choking? I didn't think they could do it.

Before Game 5 one might say that the Red Sox would win that game, but then come back to Tampa and lose in Game 6. If they were able to force a 7th game they would be in total control because the Rays are too young to respond to that type of game. That script was playing out pretty until the middle innings last night. First of all, Matt Garza was GREAT! He pitched late into the game, gave up only a couple of hits and shut down the Red Sox offense.

As the 8th inning began to unfold - signs for the Sox began to emerge. The great Yankees teams had it too. Things start to go your way, the other team feels the pressure and before you know it, the better team takes the lead. The Rays made an error on the lead off hitter and had to go to the pen. The Red Sox got another hit to make it first and 2nd and now it was inevitable. Who was going to get the big hit? Coming up were Pedroia (the league MVP), Ortiz, Youkilis and JD Drew. The bases were loaded and Drew was up - the same guy who hit what Bill Simmons calls the "$14 Million Grand Slam." The same guy who hit a 2-run HR as well as the game winning double in Game 5.

The Rays seemed to have no answer. But then the September call-up, future ace and Cy Young award winner David Price announced his presence on the major league scene. Price is a hard throwing left hander who throws 95 and has a great slider (Randy Johnson???) and apparently is a mentally tough pitcher. How many pitchers, let alone rookies, would be as calm as he was and be able to get the 4 biggest outs in team history? Not many. Price was sensational. He got Drew to strike out and breezed through the 9th after only yielding a walk.

Preview of World Series - next....