February 19, 2009 1:19 PM
- Text
Rays "Squeeze" Out Win Against Phillies
(AP)
The plucky Tampa Bay Rays pulled out all their tricks at Tropicana Field to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 and tie the World Series at 1-all on Thursday.
James Shields stymied the slumping Phillies, rookie David Price got the final seven outs and Tampa Bay rebounded from a rare home loss.
The Rays scored on Jason Bartlett's safety squeeze and built another rally when Rocco Baldelli walked on a checked swing that seemed to confuse players and umpires alike.
Tampa Bay never really got a huge hit, but neither did the Phillies as Jimmy Rollins and crew fell to 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Saturday, though rain is in the forecast. Matt Garza is scheduled to pitch for Tampa Bay against 45-year-old Jamie Moyer, making his World Series debut.
Shields pitched shutout ball into the sixth, working out of trouble just as Phillies ace Cole Hamels did for a 3-2 win in the opener on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Price, called up in September after he was the top pick in last year's draft, struck out slugger Ryan Howard with two on to end the seventh.
The hard-throwing lefty gave up a pinch-hit homer to Eric Bruntlett in the eighth, then stayed on to close it out against Philadelphia's big boppers.
Carloz Ruiz led off with a double and a pitch from Price appeared to graze Rollins' jersey. But it was not called a hit batter and a frustrated Rollins ended up popping out.
Ruiz scored when third baseman Evan Longoria booted Jayson Werth's grounder for an error, but Price fanned Chase Utley and got Howard on a game-ending grounder.
Philadelphia's lone hit with runners in scoring position was Shane Victorino's infield single in the fourth - and that didn't even produce a run.
Shields usually flourishes at home, where he was 9-2 with a 2.59 ERA during the season. All four of his postseason starts have come at tricky Tropicana Field.
Back from two seasons derailed by injuries and mitochondrial disorder, a condition that slows muscle recovery and causes extreme fatigue, Baldelli was involved on a confusing call in the second that helped Tampa Bay make it 3-0.
He checked his swing on a full-count pitch and plate umpire Kerwin Danley immediately raised his right arm as if to call strike three. But then Danley pointed to first base for an appeal, and umpire Fieldin Culbreth signaled safe.
Starter Brett Myers and several Phillies infielders were puzzled, along with manager Charlie Manuel. He took a few steps out of the dugout, but didn't argue long. With the bases loaded and two outs, B.J. Upton hit an RBI single to right.
In the fourth, Bartlett, the No. 9 hitter, drove in Cliff Floyd with a safety squeeze - one pitch after fouling off a suicide squeeze attempt. Rays fans clanged their cowbells, just as they were instructed on the scoreboard in a campy "public service announcement" before the game.
James Shields stymied the slumping Phillies, rookie David Price got the final seven outs and Tampa Bay rebounded from a rare home loss.
The Rays scored on Jason Bartlett's safety squeeze and built another rally when Rocco Baldelli walked on a checked swing that seemed to confuse players and umpires alike.
Tampa Bay never really got a huge hit, but neither did the Phillies as Jimmy Rollins and crew fell to 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Saturday, though rain is in the forecast. Matt Garza is scheduled to pitch for Tampa Bay against 45-year-old Jamie Moyer, making his World Series debut.
Shields pitched shutout ball into the sixth, working out of trouble just as Phillies ace Cole Hamels did for a 3-2 win in the opener on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Price, called up in September after he was the top pick in last year's draft, struck out slugger Ryan Howard with two on to end the seventh.
The hard-throwing lefty gave up a pinch-hit homer to Eric Bruntlett in the eighth, then stayed on to close it out against Philadelphia's big boppers.
Carloz Ruiz led off with a double and a pitch from Price appeared to graze Rollins' jersey. But it was not called a hit batter and a frustrated Rollins ended up popping out.
Ruiz scored when third baseman Evan Longoria booted Jayson Werth's grounder for an error, but Price fanned Chase Utley and got Howard on a game-ending grounder.
Philadelphia's lone hit with runners in scoring position was Shane Victorino's infield single in the fourth - and that didn't even produce a run.
Shields usually flourishes at home, where he was 9-2 with a 2.59 ERA during the season. All four of his postseason starts have come at tricky Tropicana Field.
Back from two seasons derailed by injuries and mitochondrial disorder, a condition that slows muscle recovery and causes extreme fatigue, Baldelli was involved on a confusing call in the second that helped Tampa Bay make it 3-0.
He checked his swing on a full-count pitch and plate umpire Kerwin Danley immediately raised his right arm as if to call strike three. But then Danley pointed to first base for an appeal, and umpire Fieldin Culbreth signaled safe.
Starter Brett Myers and several Phillies infielders were puzzled, along with manager Charlie Manuel. He took a few steps out of the dugout, but didn't argue long. With the bases loaded and two outs, B.J. Upton hit an RBI single to right.
In the fourth, Bartlett, the No. 9 hitter, drove in Cliff Floyd with a safety squeeze - one pitch after fouling off a suicide squeeze attempt. Rays fans clanged their cowbells, just as they were instructed on the scoreboard in a campy "public service announcement" before the game.
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