ALCS Game Seven: Tampa Bay Rays Heading to World Series after Topping Boston Red Sox in Decider

Willy Aybar was 2-3 with a solo homerun, Evan Longoria went 1-3 with a double and an RBI, Rocco Baldelli went 1-3 with an RBI and Matt Garza threw seven innings of two-hit ball allowing just one run while striking out nine as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox in Game Seven of the ALCS to advance to the World Series where they will now face the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies beginning on Wednesday.

The Red Sox jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Dustin Pedroia hit a homerun over the left field wall off Garza. Boston starter Jon Lester looked strong through the first three innings, setting the Rays down in order but in the fourth he ran into trouble after giving up a leadoff single to Akinori Iwamura. He managed to get B.J. Upton on strikes and then got Carlos Pena to ground into a fielder’s choice that caught Iwamura at second but Longoria followed with a double that brought Pena around from first to tie the game.

In the bottom of the fifth Aybar opened with a double and Dioner Navarro followed with an infield single to put runners at first and second. Lester then gave up an RBI single to Baldelli that plated Aybar and the Rays were in front 2-1.

Aybar added a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-1 advantage and Garza returned to the mound in the eighth but after Alex Cora reached on an error Tampa manager Joe Maddon brought in Dan Wheeler who gave up a single to Coco Crisp to put runners at first and second and no outs. Pedroia then flew out to left and J.P. Howell was brought in to face David Ortiz who grounded into a fielder’s choice that caught Crisp at second. Maddon then lifted Howell for Chad Bradford and Kevin Youkilis walked to load the bases. Once again Maddon went to the bullpen and brought in David Price who got J.D. Drew swinging to end the inning.

Price returned to the mound in the ninth and after walking Jason Bay he got Mark Kotsay and Jason Varitek on strikes and then got Jed Lowrie to hit a ground ball to Iwamura who stepped on second to end the game.

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