The Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1, Tuesday night to win their American League Division Series matchup and advance to the League Championship Series.
Red Sox vs. Rays GIF recap: Boston wins 3-1 to advance in playoffs
The celebration in Boston continues as the team waits to see who their opponent will be in the American League Championship Series.
It took more than six innings for the Red Sox to score their first runs. That would not have been true if it weren't for Rays' first baseman James Loney.
Boston loaded the bases against starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson in the second inning, causing the Rays to go to the bullpen early. Jamey Wright came on and struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia for out one, then allowed what could have been an RBI double. Instead, James Loney did defensive things and turned it into a spectacular double play.
That ended pretty much all the scoring threats until the sixth inning, when the Rays finally managed to break a scoreless tie. Yunel Escobar led off the bottom of the inning with a deep double, then moved to third on a groundout. Finally, David DeJesus put a ball through the middle to bring Escobar home.
It was a fleeting jubilation for the Rays, who were fighting to keep their season alive in this game. They were able to hold on to the lead for only the briefest of moments as the Red Sox came back the next half inning to steal the lead away.
Boston scored two in the top of the seventh. The first of those runs came via a wild pitch from the fresh-outta-the-bullpen Joel Peralta.
The second scored in a more traditional manner as Shane Victorino singled home Jacoby Ellsbury, who had moved all the way from first to third on that pitch. With the Red Sox taking a slight lead, Koji Uehara was just waiting for his just to come in for a save opportunity.
The Rays did achieve a smaller victory during the game, however. The Red Sox had gone since Aug. 8 without being caught stealing a base, swiping 45 consecutive bags. That streak ended Tuesday when Rays' catcher Jose Lobaton threw out Daniel Nava at second base on what appeared to be a failed hit and run.
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