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Rays head to Series
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| Tampa Bay Rays players celebrate after defeating Boston, 3-1, to win the American League pennant in St. Petersburg on Sunday. The Rays will take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series beginning Wednesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS |
Tamps Bay finally puts Boston to rest with 3-1 win.
By FRED GOODALL
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG — Worst to first — and now the World Series.
Take that, nonbelievers. These Tampa Bay Rays have arrived.
They proved it Sunday night, dethroning the defending champion Boston Red Sox with a 3-1 victory in Game 7 of the AL
championship series.
Down to their last chance after nearly letting it all
slip away, the Rays completed a stunning run to their first pennant.
“I used to tell people I played for the Devil Rays and they’d ask, ‘Who are the Devil Rays?’” said
center fielder B.J. Upton, who had four homers and 11 RBIs in the ALCS. “Now, I think they know who we are.”
A 200-1 shot to win the title before the season, the Rays will host the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 Wednesday night. Manager Joe Maddon’s bunch is trying to become the first team to go from worst in the majors to World Series champion in just one season.
“I hope everyone doubts us again,” reliever J.P. Howell said. “Philly’s a better team than us. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Right-hander Matt Garza beat Boston lefty Jon Lester for the second time in a week to earn MVP honors.
Meanwhile, rookie David Price put an exclamation point on why Tampa Bay’s future looks so bright by getting the final four outs to begin the celebration.
“There’s nothing else to say other than I would’ve never thought this in a
million years,” said designated hitter Cliff Floyd, one of the veterans brought in last winter to provide leadership and stability in a young clubhouse.
“It’s amazing what can happen when you put a lot of athletes on the field and start to believe during the course of the season. It was only a matter of time before it became this.”
To finish the task, the Rays even showed a bit of Boston-like resolve when they needed it.
After squandering a seven-run lead late in Game 5 and losing meekly Saturday, few gave Tampa Bay a chance in Game 7 against an experienced Red Sox team.
But when Price struck out J.D. Drew with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning, the Rays were on their way.
Take that, nonbelievers. These Tampa Bay Rays have arrived.
They proved it Sunday night, dethroning the defending champion Boston Red Sox with a 3-1 victory in Game 7 of the AL
championship series.
Down to their last chance after nearly letting it all
slip away, the Rays completed a stunning run to their first pennant.
“I used to tell people I played for the Devil Rays and they’d ask, ‘Who are the Devil Rays?’” said
center fielder B.J. Upton, who had four homers and 11 RBIs in the ALCS. “Now, I think they know who we are.”
A 200-1 shot to win the title before the season, the Rays will host the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 Wednesday night. Manager Joe Maddon’s bunch is trying to become the first team to go from worst in the majors to World Series champion in just one season.
“I hope everyone doubts us again,” reliever J.P. Howell said. “Philly’s a better team than us. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Right-hander Matt Garza beat Boston lefty Jon Lester for the second time in a week to earn MVP honors.
Meanwhile, rookie David Price put an exclamation point on why Tampa Bay’s future looks so bright by getting the final four outs to begin the celebration.
“There’s nothing else to say other than I would’ve never thought this in a
million years,” said designated hitter Cliff Floyd, one of the veterans brought in last winter to provide leadership and stability in a young clubhouse.
“It’s amazing what can happen when you put a lot of athletes on the field and start to believe during the course of the season. It was only a matter of time before it became this.”
To finish the task, the Rays even showed a bit of Boston-like resolve when they needed it.
After squandering a seven-run lead late in Game 5 and losing meekly Saturday, few gave Tampa Bay a chance in Game 7 against an experienced Red Sox team.
But when Price struck out J.D. Drew with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning, the Rays were on their way.
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| District duties for CHS |
