RAYS WIN AND ADVANCE TO THE ALCS!

By JC De La Torre

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox 6-2 to wrap up the American League Divisional Series with a 3 games to 1 victory. The Rays now await to see if the Boston Red Sox can wrap up their ALDS victory over the LA Angels. If the Red Sox take care of business at home, the Rays will host Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. If the Angels rally to win the ALDS, the series will begin on the road in Los Angeles.

The Rays jumped to a 4-0 lead thanks to two home runs by BJ Upton, a double by Cliff Floyd, and a single by Dioner Navarro. In the bottom of the 4th, Paul Konerko homered to cut the lead to 4-1. The Rays would answer in the 5th, with Carols Pena singling home Aki Iwamura to put them up by 4. Jermaine Dye's home run in the sixth would cut the lead back down to 3, but again the Rays would answer with another scoring single by Pena in top of the 7th.

Grant Balfour would enter the game in the eight and get the final six outs, the last by striking out Ken Griffey, Jr. and with that, a raucous celebration began for the Rays.

On a personal note, I promised my wife that if the Rays made the ALCS, I would cut my hair into a "RayHawk" - and tonight I made good on my promise...it should be an interesting day at work tomorrow.

Congrats to the Rays on their first ever playoff series win!

White Sox Live to Play Another Day...

By JC De La Torre

Facing elimination, the Chicago White Sox put together their best performance of the American Leeague Divisional Series, beating the Rays in front of a huge, black clothed mass of humanity. Dressed as if they were here to witness a funeral, the White Sox fans instead watched their team put together a gutty performance.

The Rays were up early when Navarro singled in Aki Iwamura for a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. The White Sox would answer in the 3rd, with AJ Pierzynski singling home Derrick Wise to tie the game at 1. The Sox would take command of the game in the 4th, scoring 3 times to take a 4-1 lead. They'd add an insurance run in the 5th, the Rays wouldn't answer until 7th, when BJ Upton blasted a 2 run homer to cut the lead to 5-3, the Rays would get no closer.

So we'll see a game 4, tomorrow - the time is to be announced.

The Rays need to close this series out, you don't want to have a game 5 situation against a veteran ball club like the White Sox.

Rays fly past the Sox again, Up 2-0 in the Series

By JC De La Torre

The Rays are one game away from advancing to the American League Championship Series as they zipped past the Chicago White Sox 6-2 in Game Two of the ALDS. Rays Ace Scott Kazmir had a rocky start, hitting Orlando Cabrerra to begin the game (some believe on purpose for Cabrerra's little tift with Grant Balfour the previous game). He loaded the bases in the 1st and ended up giving up 2 runs. After Dioner Navarro singled in a run in the second, it was 2-1 until the bottom of the 5th. With Bartlett on, Aki Iwamura, who hit only six home runs during the regular season, blasted a two run homer to left to give the Rays a 3-2 lead. After Kaz left in the 6th, Balfour and JP Howell got the Rays to the bottom of the 8th with the lead - where the Rays opened up the game. BJ Upton led off with the triple. Crawford's single scored Upton, then Rocco Baldelli's single scored Crawford. Navarro would give the Rays one more run with another double setting up the 9th for peculiar Chad Bradford. Bradford's strange pitching style (each pitch his knuckles on his pitching arm swing down, nearly touching the ground) seemed to dumbfound the White Sox and after a controversial "hit" by Jermaine Dye where Willie Aybar appeared to tag out Dye running to first but the umpire said he missed, Bradford shut down the Sox one, two, three for the win.

The Rays are now 23-2 in front of home crowds over 30,000. They go head-to-head with the Bucs as Game 3 starts at 4pm Eastern in Chicago, right about the same time the Bucs take on the Broncos. You don't want to look ahead, but with the Rays up 2-0 and the Boston Red Sox up 2-0 on the LA Angels heading back to Boston, it is conceivable that the Rays could have home field advantage for the ALCS. Boston has not beaten Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg this season.

Top of the 9th

By JC De La Torre

Here we go...

Dan Wheeler takes over...

Konerko at the plate...takes strike one! Takes Strike two...Cowbells are a-ringin'...fans on their feet...fouls off a pitch...just missed, ball one low...high, ball two...grounded foul...Outside for ball three - Konerko thinks its ball four - DOH! Ground ball foul...ground foul again...10th pitch of this at bat coming up...another foul...High fly ball deep to left....way back...fair and gone - HOME RUN for Konerko!

Griffey is up...takes strike one...now a high fly ball deep to left but playable, Crawford under it...out number 1...

Ramirez is up...takes strike one...ball in the dirt-ball one...swing and miss, strike 2...cow bells banging...pop foul...pop foul again...man, are they working Wheeler...Ramirez throws the bat at the ball..connects foul...SWING AND A MISS STRUCK HIM OUT! TWO DOWN!

And now AJ Pirzynski...Take strike one...Ball one, just outside...High fly ball, deep to center, BJ under it...makes the catch!

RAYS WIN! RAYS WIN! RAYS WIN!

The Tampa Bay Rays take game 1 of the ALDS, defeating the Chicago White Sox 6-4!

Player of the game: Evan Longoria, 3-4, 2 hrs, 3 rbi

Good game by the Rays today - we knew the White Sox had power but they were able to manage it and pull off the win.

So the Rays are up 1 game to 0 and have a chance to take a 2-0 lead tomorrow night. We will not be blogging Game two, but we will definitely commenting after the game is over.

How bout those Rays Tampa Bay!

Bottom of the 8th

By JC De La Torre

Richard still pitching...

Rocco Baldelli at the plate for Cliff Floyd - ball one, takes ball two, takes strike one, fouls off strike two...ground ball to 2nd, out.

Navi at the plate...Strike one..Navi pops into center...LOOK out - they make the catch but they almost collided in the outfield - wow...

Gross is up - first pitch - BASE HIT up the middle!

Bartlett is up...liner into left BASE HIT for Bartlett!

Aki is up...

Doc Cooper, pitching coach for the Chi Sox is up talking to Richards...Carrasco and Dotel warming up for Chicago in the Bull Pen

Aki...High ball one...Pop foul - Out of play...Wheeler is warming up for the Rays...ball two outside...Ball three outside....BALL FOUR - BASES LOADED!

White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen is going to make a pitching change...

Recaping the Cabrera-Balfour shoutfest

Dotel is the pitcher...

Upton at the plate - he hasn't been good all day 0 for 4...Takes ball one...Takes ball two outside...takes strike one...takes strike two...its even 2-2...STRIKES OUT LOOKING...GEEBUS, BJ!

So we go to the 9th...Rays 6, White Sox 3

Top of the 8th

By JC De La Torre

JP Howell in as a pitcher...

Bryan Anderson replaces Griffey - Takes Strike one...takes ball one...takes ball two...takes ball three...take strike two...Takes Strike three - as Anderson was heading to first, Umpire Joe West rung him up....

Dye is up...takes strike one...ball one inside...hard foul...Cow bells going crazy...high curve, Dye fouls it off...Swing and Miss - STRUCK HIM OUT!

Thome is up, takes strike one...takes strike two....More Cow bells....Ball - just a hair outside...High ball outside - 2-2....fouled off...Ball three High and inside - FULL COUNT....Grounder to Barlett to Aybar...we're done with the top half of the 8th...

The Rays are 3 outs away and take a 6-3 into the bottom of the 8th.

Bottom of the 7th

By JC De La Torre

Take me out to the ball game...

Sign: Hoo Rays

Crowd chanting "Let's Go Rays!"

Upton is up, takes ball one, takes strike one...fly ball to right...Out...

Aybar is up...Ball one outside...Ball two low...Ground ball hard to third - Uribe's got it, over to first - two outs...

Guillen coming out....but not taking out Richard yet...

Longoria at the plate...Takes ball one...takes ball low...takes ball three outside...ball four...walked him with nothing to hit...

Carl Crawford is up....Ball one outside...Strike one...Longoria going - steals second...Crawford fouls it out of play....ground ball to 2nd...throw to first got him.

After 7 innings, Rays 6, W-Sox 3

Rays six outs away...

Top of the 7th

By JC De La Torre

TBS pimping Cubs-Dodgers...

Konerko is up...Fouls off...Ball one...Fouled down the left field line...Ground ball base hit into left...

Griffey is up...Ball outside....takes strike one...Swing and a miss, strike two...foul tipped to stay alive...swing and a miss - STRUCK HIM OUT....4th strike out for Shields...

Ramirez is up...Takes ball one close inside...Balfour warming up in the bull pen...Ground ball foul...TBS announcer just called JP Howell "CJ Howell"...ball inside...ball outside, ball 3...Ball four...the first walk by Shields...Men at first and second, 1 out...

Hickey comes out...

Pirzynski is up...Pirzynski is HIT BY THE PITCH...bases are loaded with one out.

Maddon is coming out...and that's it for James Shields. He goes 6 and 1/3

Grant Balfour now pitching...

Juan Uribe at the plate...Uribe lines it foul out of play....Just a hair outside, ball one...Swing and miss - 95 mph heater from Balfour...Cow Bells they are a ringing...Another heater from Balfour - SWING AND A MISS - STRUCK HIM OUT!

Cabrera is up - Takes ball one outside...Now Caberra and Balfour are arguing - the pitch wasn't close to him...Balfour swing, foul ball...Balfour and Cabrerra still yelling at each other...Ball two, low...Low Ball two....look out...SWING AND A MISS- STRUCK HIM OUT! Balfour tells Cabrera SIT YO ASS DOWN!

Rays get out of trouble and after 6 1/2, Tampa Bay 6, Chicago 3

Bottom of the 6th

Gabe Gross leads it off...Foul ball, out of play...takes strike two...fouled off again...outside ball one...Bartlett and Aki to follow...Ball two...fouled off...swing and a miss - struck him out...

Bartlett is up...Bartlett fakes a bunt...Joe Maddon talking about his favorite sayings...bartlett fakes another bunt but takes it for a strike...takes strike two...swing and a miss, strik three...

Aki is up...Ball One...Ball two low...Ball three high...Takes Strike One...Swing and a miss for strike two...swing and a miss...Richard strikes out the side...

Wow...the dude is doing good.

After 6, Tampa Bay 6, Chicago 3

Top of the 6th

by JC De La Torre

Wise is up...takes ball one...trys to bunt on, fielded by Shields...OUT at first, nice catch by Aybar

Dye is up....Swing and a miss - strike one...Ball one...takes ball two...takes Ball three...grounder foul...Fly ball into Right field...Caught, out number two...

Thome is up...swing and a miss strike one...ball one...grounder back to Shields...easy out number 3...

1, 2, 3 in the 6th...

After 5 1/2, Rays 6, White Sox 3

Bottom of the 5th

By JC De La Torre

Aki is up, takes strike one...takes ball one...Liner over 2nd - BASE HIT for AKI!

BJ is up...please make something happen BJ! Throw to 1st by Vasquez...BJ takes strike-no BALL One, wow...Throw to 1st, the crowd boos...Takes strike one...Liner into right pulling...FOUL...Outside ball two...Ground Ball, Slow Bouncer...Close play at 2nd..He DROPS IT - NO they call Aki Out! WTF!

Aybar is up with Upton on 1st, 1 out. Aybar watches a pitch out, Upton wasn't going. Ball two. Takes Strike one. Throw to 1st, Upton late getting back but safe. Another throw to first. Ground ball between 3rd and short - BASE HIT AYBAR!

Men on 1st and 2nd...Longo is up to the plate.

Longoria...Ball one low and outside...Ball two outside...scared of Longoria...Strike One...Grounder BASE HIT LONGO...Upton trying to score - the throw - SAFE! SAFE! Men at 1st and 2nd.

Ozzie Guillen is coming out - the day is over for Vasquez...

Clinton Richard is the new pitcher...Carl Crawford at the plate, 2 men on 1 out.

CC...Takes ball one outside...Fouls it OFF his foot...OUCH...Crawford limping but staying in...Ground ball up the middle BASE HIT! Aybar around to score...men at 1st and 2nd, still one out. Rays now lead 6-3

Cliff Floyd is up. Takes Ball one...DEEP TO RIGHT-FOUL AGAIN! Come on Cliff, Straighten it up! Foul, strike two....Cliff dives, nearly hit - it hit the bat, foul ball...Grounder foul....Foul once again....Swing and miss - strikes out again...

Navarro is up...Takes ball one...takes strike one...High Foul into left...Swing and a miss...strike three

The damage is done - they chase Vasquez and pad the lead.

After 5 innings, its the Rays 6, the White Sox 3.

Top of the 5th

By JC De La Torre

Pirzenski is up....Fouls off ball one...Liner to Left...BASE HIT. Damn that guy...I can't spell his name and he always gets hits...

Juan Uribe is up...How many Uribe's have been in baseball? Throw to 1st. Check swing grounder, foul...Uribe High Fly Ball Deep to Left...Crawford under it, he's got it...Pirzenski is going - no he's not - back to 1st.

Orlando Cabrerra back up - Takes Strike 1...Takes Strike two - Pirzenski is going - Navi's got him, easy out...Cabrerra fouls it back...Shields, wild pitch - ball one...Liner to Right Field - Gross is under it...out #3...

Thank you AJ Whatever-the-hell-your-name-is...

After 4 1/2 - Tampa Bay 4, Chicago 3

Bottom of the 3rd

By JC De La Torre

Rays need to bounce back after a rough top half...

Bartlett is up...ball one...Ground Ball BASE HIT for Barlett.

He goes to 1st.

Top of the line up...Aki is up....Aki shortens to bunt but pulls back...ball one...High fly ball...deep center...over Griffey's head! Bartlett around 3rd heading home...he scores...Aki going to 3rd close throw...SAFE! SAFE! Triple for AKI!

BJ is up...Swing at a ball way outside...come on BJ! WTF! BJ fouls it back, 0-2 count...Foul tipped into the catcher's mit...out...horrible at bat by Upton...

Aybar is up...Line foul, out of play....ball one, low and inside...Fly ball deep to left...Aki will try to score...Great throw by Wise...but AKI MAKES IT! HE'S SAFE!

Two out Longo up...HIGH FLY BALL DEEP LEFT....LONGO DID IT AGAIN! HOME RUN LONGO! HOLY SMOKES!

CC up...Swings strike one...takes ball one..low ball two...Takes Strike two....Fouls it off....Ball three low...Full count...High Fly Ball Deep Right....but playable for Dye, he makes the catch.

Wow, the Rays answer the White Sox 3 run inning with a 3 run inning of their own.

After three, its the Rays 4, the White Sox 3.

Top of the 3rd

By JC De La Torre

Ramirez up, takes strike one...ball one...Ramirez bunts foul...oh crap, Aybar in for Pena...no report on what's up with Pena...Ramirez foul deep to left...low ball two...Ground ball, up the middle...BASE HIT! Ramirez on first.

Still no word on why Aybar took over for Pena at first.

AJ Pirzinski is up...blooper into left, base hit...men at first and 2nd...

Uribe up...he bunts, Shields to first...runners advance.

Back to the top of the order, Cabrera is up...swing and a miss....Cabrera pops up in the infield...Aki under it...makes the catch, two down.

Wise up...takes strike one...Ball one...ball two...swing and a miss - strike two...Cowbells...MORE COWBELL RAYS FANS...High fly ball...deep to RIGHT....HOME RUN! Sox take a 3-1 lead...

Jermaine Dye is up now...takes a strike...ball one...ball two...fouled back - 2-2 count...Dye high fly ball deep to center over Upton's head....base hit...double...

Hickey's coming out to talk to Shields...

Thome up...Takes ball one inside...Takes Ball two...Takes strike one...Swing and a miss, strike two...Cow bells a ringing....Low, Ball three...full count...Fouls it off to stay a live...Grounder to Aki...over to Aybar...inning over...

Not a good inning for Shields...3 runs, four hits.

Dewayne Wise's 3 run homer makes it W-Sox 3, Rays 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom of the 2nd

By JC De La Torre

Sign: 10 years, 1,620 Games, 1,620 Beers, Playoffs- Priceless!

Longo up...First Pitch...DEEEP LEFT - CYA! HOMER FOR LONGO!

Crawford up...foul ball...another foul ball..Swing and Miss...quickly down...

Cliff Floyd is up....High Fly Ball DEEEEP RIGHT....FOUL! DAMN IT! Low, ball one. Inside Ball two...Foul ball...Cliff Fouls it off again...Cliff tries to hold up but goes too far around, strikes out.

Navi up...High outside, ball one...Way inside ball two, Navi had to move out of the way...Ball three outside...3-0 count...Takes strike one...Ball-NO STRIKE TWO...wtf that was high....Navi chops down the first base line, four ball...Navi pops it up...they've lost it in the roof...they've lost it in the roof....drops in! FAIR! Navi goes to 2nd.

Gross is up...Takes strike one...Swings badly, strike two...Inside ball one...low ball two...Gross swings late, misses...strikes out...

Good inning for the Rays 1 run, 2 hits...the homer by Longo leaves it after 2, Rays 1, W-Sox 0.

Top of the 2nd

By JC De La Torre

Announcers blabbing about how baseball thought they were going to fade

Thome up...Fouled off..High ball one...Ground ball, broken bat, Aki's got it, one away...

Konerko...ground to Longo - toss to Pena...two down...

Griffey, Jr is up...ball one...ball two, appeal to third, no strike...ball three...Griffey takes strike one...Swing and a miss...we're full...Cowbells are ringing...SWING AND A MISS, bad swing by Griffey, that was ball four!

After 1.5, W-Sox 0, Rays 0

Bottom of the 1st

By JC De La Torre

Aki leads off for the Rays...Ball one...Slow roller to first, Konerko's got it...1 down.

BJ up...First pitch swing, fly to right....Dye under, puts it away, 3 pitches, 2 down.

Pena up...Swing and a miss...not even close on that one....Low ball one. Announcers blabbing about how important experience is...Ball two high and outside...Swing and a miss, strike two...nasty cut by Pena...Swing and a miss - he's done, we're done.

Rays looked a little anxious to get into the game, swinging at some bad pitches. They need to settle down.

After 1, Rays 0, W-Sox 0

Top of the 1st...

By JC De La Torre

Here we go...
Orlando Cabrera up...looks like him and Navi have words before the first pitch. STRIKE from Shields. STRIKE TWO from shields....fly ball to Right field....Gabe's got it...1 away.

Dewayne Wise...Foul ball...Foul ball...Wise swings and a miss...SHIELDS STRIKE OUT! WHOO HOO! Some Rays fans sporting a Ray-Hawk...blue mohawk.

Jermaine Dye is up now...Low ball one....Fastball, Strike one....Inside Ball two...Grounder, Longoria's got it...over to Pena...1,2,3 inning....

Nice start for the Rays.

After a half inning Chicago 0, Rays on Deck

Opening Introductions

By JC De La Torre

The Rays are being introduced....and Dennis Eckersley of the TBS coverage just said "The only good thing about Tampa is the sun..." Wtf?

White Sox, Crawford coming to the Trop

By JC De La Torre

After weeks of wondering, the wait is over for the Rays. The Chicago White Sox won the war of attrition with the Minnesota Twins, beating them 1-0 in the one game playoff that decided the AL Central pennant. For the Rays, it means they face a team that they fared pretty well against during the season, when they posted a 6-4 record and were 4-1 in games decided by two runs or less. The Rays, on paper, have superior starting pitching, defense, and bullpen, but the White Sox definitely seem to have an edge in power. For the Rays to succeed, they will need a much better pitching performance from the starting 4 pitchers than they did in Sepetember, where they had a combined 4-7 record and a 4 plus ERA. The scheduled rotation for the Rays in the ALDS is Shields, Kaz, Garza, and if necessary, Sonny and Shields again.

The Rays also gave their fans some good news, as Carl Crawford will be on the ALDS roster and is expected to start in Game 1.

Tampa Bay Sports Blog will be Blogging during Game 1 so be sure to check back with us.