Tuesday, the Rays took care of business against the Yankees while the Red Sox took care of business against the Orioles, and so each team stands at 90-71 with one game to go.
Rays Excite Baseball Fans Everywhere Except There
ST. PETERSBURG, FL: Pitcher Jake McGee of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during a game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) Getty ImagesThe New York Yankees are a team of some renown, having won a number of Major League Baseball’s championship tournaments over the last few decades. What’s more, a fair number of ex-New Yorkers live in the general vicinity of St. Petersburg, and might be expected to make the modest trek to see their hometown team in the flesh.
The Tampa Bay Rays are of less renown, having once been a perennial laughingstock (but only among the cognoscenti) and still playing in a relatively small region, in terms of population. Still, these particular Rays are a compelling group of young men.
Read Article >Rays Vs. Yankees: Homers And Triple Play Key Tampa Bay’s 5-3 Win
Getty ImagesNot too late, though. In the bottom of the seventh, ex-Rays closer Rafael Soriano took the mound for the Yankees.
Longoria walked.
Read Article >Yankees Vs. Rays, AL Wild Card Race Preview: Time, TV Schedule, Starting Pitchers And More
Jeremy Hellickson of the Tampa Bay Rays throws against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park September 15, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) Getty ImagesPitchers
Yankees: Bartolo Colon (8-10, 4.02 ERA)
Rays: Jeremy Hellickson (13-10, 2.90 ERA)
Game time: Tuesday, 7:10 p.m.
Read Article >The Red Sox Might Have Saved Their Season... But The Rays And Angels Cling To Wild Card Hope
Marco Scutaro of the Boston Red Sox tags out Johnny Damon of the Tampa Bay Rays attempting to steal at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) Getty ImagesEasier said than done. Boston is 6-18 this month and just lost three of four to the Orioles at Fenway Park -- and gave up nine runs in the game they won.
So the Rays aren’t out of it, by any means. If the Red Sox and Rays tie for the wild card spot, there will be a tiebreaker game in Tampa -- the Rays get the home game due to a better head-to-head record -- on Thursday.
Read Article >AL Wild-Card Update: Red Sox Lose First Game Of Doubleheader, Rays Win
NEW YORK, NY - Tim Wakefield #49 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout against the New York Yankees. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) Getty ImagesOn September 1st, the Red Sox were in first place in the AL East by a half-game. They were nine full games ahead of the Rays. On September 25th, they’re clinging to a half-game lead just to make the playoffs.
Also of note: the Angels blew a sweet chance to get as close as one game back, losing to the A’s, 6-5. That would have put us one step closer to having a three-way tie for the Wild Card that would have made Bud Selig’s head explode like the guy from Scanners. Would have been good times.
Read Article >Angels Stay Alive In Wild Card Race With 4-2 Win Over Athletics
Getty ImagesFor more on this game, head over to Halos Heaven, for Angels fans, and Athletics Nation, for Oakland fans.
Read Article >Tampa Bay Rays Close In On Wild Card With 6-2 Win Over Jays
Getty ImagesThat made the score 3-2, and that’s where it remained for quite some time. It was still 3-2 Rays in the bottom of the eighth when Damon batted against Romero with two on and two out. Romero left a 2-and-0 fastball up and Damon turned on it, drilling a home run that blew the game open.
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