World Series Game Three: Philadelphia Phillies Top Tampa Bay Rays in Ninth to Grab 2-1 Lead

Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with a run scored, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard each homered and Carlos Ruiz went 2-3 with a homer and the game winning hit in the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies past the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Saturday night and grab a 2-1 lead in the 2008 World Series.

The Phillies jumped in the lead 1-0 in the first inning after Jimmy Rollins led off with a single, Jayson Werth walked and Rays starter Matt Garza threw a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third. Chase Utley brought Rollins home on a ground out to first.

Tampa tied the game in the top of the second after Carl Crawford doubled off Jamie Moyer and then stole third after Dioner Navarro popped out to second. Gabe Gross plated Crawford with sacrifice fly and the game was even at 1-1.

Ruiz got the run right back in the bottom of the frame though as he hit a solo blast over the left field wall and the game would remain locked at 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning. With Garza still on the hill Chase Utley hit a long homerun and Ryan Howard followed with a solo blast of his own and Philly was up 4-1 heading into the seventh.

Crawford started the top of the seventh with a bunt single and Navarro doubled to put runners on second and third. Moyer then got Gross to ground out to first to plate Crawford and Navarro moved to third. Chad Durbin came on in relief and got Jason Bartlett to ground out to short but Navarro came home to get the Rays within 4-3.

Chad Bradford was on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning and set the Phillies down in order and Tampa moved into the eighth trailing by a run. B.J. Upton leadoff with an infield single off Ryan Madson but Carlos Pena went down on strikes. Upton then stole second and followed with a steal of third and when Ruiz’s throw got away from Pedro Feliz Upton trotted in for the tying run.

J.P. Howell got through the eighth for the Rays but J.C. Romero did the same for the Phillies in the top of the ninth, giving Philadelphia the bottom of the ninth to win the game.

Eric Bruntlett started the inning by getting hit by a pitch and Grant Balfour came on to face Shane Victorino. Balfour then threw a wild pitch and Bruntlett headed for second, Navarro’s throw got away from Bartlett and Bruntlett moved to third. Victorino and Greg Dobbs were then intentionally walked to load the bases and Ruiz followed with a slow roller up the third base line that Evan Longoria couldn’t do anything with and Philly had the win.

Game Four of the World Series will be played on Sunday in Philadelphia.

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