Keep playing like you don't know any better, Rays. You just put the finishing touches on an 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox, who had returned to their home park and put their recently-unhittable ace John Lester on the mound.
What do you do with a John Lester? You smack him around. The Rays looked completely unfazed about the gravity of the situation: a best-of-seven series against the defending champions, the winner of which moves on to the World Series. The Rays are now up 2-1 in the series.
What do you do if you're Matt Garza? You pitch six innings of masterpiece ball.
What do you if you're J.P. Howell? You come in and mow down the Sox by getting one of their studs, Dustin Pedroia, to hit into an inning-ending double play. Then you close 'em out in the 8th.
What do you do if you're Rocco Baldelli. You forget about your muscle disorder and smack a late-game, game-clinching home run.
I could go on.
Longoria and Upton homered — again.
It's all lining up pretty well. The Rays really couldn't ask to be in a better situation. Remember, though. Boston has made some impressive comebacks in the playoffs in recent years.
One small note about the broadcast crew. Unlike other play-by-play yahoos who refuse to do their homework and say that the Rays are based in Tampa, Chip Carey always says that the Rays play in "St. Pete." Thank you, Chip, thankyouthankyouthankyou.
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2008.