The Tampa Bay Rays stayed alive against the Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series, winning on a home from Jose Lobaton in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie after closer Fernando Rodney gave up the tying run in the ninth inning and now the Red Sox can advance to the American League Championship Series with a win in game 4 for a 3-1 series.
The Boston Red Sox were one of the strongest teams in baseball throughout the regular season and they are showing exactly why in the playoffs, as they are now up 2-0 on the Tampa Bay Rays with Game 3 coming in Florida at 6:07 pm on TBS Monday night in the American League Division Series.
ALDS Game 3 Schedule:
Start time at 6:07 PM
Broadcast on TBS in Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field
The Red Sox were the top team in the American League this season and won 97 games to the Rays' 92 and the team is looking even stronger in the playoffs, as they are coming off of a 7-4 victory on Saturday that saw David Price freak out on Twitter after getting beat. The Red Sox won the season series over the Rays and now they have the chance to win the ALDS after going 12-7 against Tampa this season.
John Lackey got the win in the last game and for Game 3, the Red Sox will throw Clay Buchholz in his first postseason start, while the Rays will pitch Alex Cobb, who went 11-3 with a sub-3.00 ERA this season. The Rays had a lower overall season ERA than the Sox, but Boston was one of the most consistent offensive teams in the MLB, ranking first in runs and on base percentage while also ranking second in batting average and number one in slugging percentage, which was helped along by David Ortiz, who had 30 home runs and 103 RBIs this season..
Ortiz was the best offensive player, leading with a .309 average, 30 homers and 103 RBIs, while Jacoby Ellsbury had 92 runs and the pitching was also excellent, with Lackey leading the team in ERA and WHIP, while Jon Lester was tops in wins and strikeouts. The Rays are coming in after ranking 11th in the league in runs and 12th in batting average and they were also fourth in on base and 10th in slugging percentage.
Ellsbury was excellent in the last game with three hits and Dustin Pedroia came through to have three RBIs, while David Ortiz had his first multi home run game in his postseason career for the 7-4 win to put the Sox up 2-0 in the series. Jeremy Hellickson and Jake Peavy will go if Game 4 is necessary and the Red Sox will be looking to sweep out the series on Monday.
