Action photos from World Series Game 2, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton and Rocco Baldelli celebrate the Rays 4-2 win over the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series Thursday evening. [James Borchuck, Times]

Willy Aybar congratulates David Price on the win. [Brian Cassella, Times]

David Price and Dioner Navarro celebrate the win. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays center fielder B.J. Upton and Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Rocco Baldelli celebrate a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. [Edmund Fountain, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays celebrate after defeating the Philadelpia Phillies in Game two of the World Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Thursday evening. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

David Price strikes out Chase Utley in the ninth inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Eric Bruntlett hits a solo home run in the ninth inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

David Price is greeted by teammates after striking out Ryan Howard to end the seventh inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Ryan Howard strikes out to end the top of the seventh inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Carlos Ruiz successfully steals second base in the seventh inning.  Jason Bartlett was unable to handle the throw from the catcher. [Edmund Fountain, Times]

Carlos Ruiz steals second in the seventh inning as Jason Bartlett tries to catch the throw from Dioner Navarro.  [James Borchuck, Times]

David Price pitches in the seventh inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Rays Manager Joe Maddon signals for reliever David Price in the seventh inning. He took pitcher Dan Wheeler out of the game. [James Borchuck, Times]

Dan Wheeler pitches in the sixth inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

James Shields tips his cap to the crowd after being taken out of the game in the sixth inning with a 4-0 lead. [Edmund Fountain, Times]

James Shields tips his cap to the crowd after being taken out of the game in the sixth inning with a 4-0 lead. [James Borchuck, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher James Shields heads to the bench after being pulled during the sixth inning. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays Carlos Pena dives back to first base on a pick off play in the fifth inning.  The throw misses Phillies Shane Victorino as Pena gets up and takes second base on the error. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

Jayson Worth is picked off first base by Carlos Pena. The throw from Rocco Baldelli completed a double play to end the top of the fifth inning. [Edmund Fountain, Times]

Jason Bartlett gets the force out on a sliding Carlos Ruiz in the fifth inning. Bartlett was unable to get the runner at first base. [James Borchuck, Times]

Cliff Floyd after scoring a run in the fourth inning to give the Rays a 4-0 lead. [James Borchuck, Times]

Cliff Floyd crosses the plate to give the Rays a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Jason Bartlett's sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning scores Cliff Floyd to give the Rays a 4-0 lead. [James Borchuck, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays Cliff Floyd connects for a broken bat single during the fourth inning. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

Cliff Floyd hits a broken bat single in the fourth inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Dioner Navarro hits a single in the fourth inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Akinori Iwamura tries to throw out Shane Victorino in the fourth inning after diving to stop the ball. Victorino was safe on the play. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Jayson Werth after striking out in the third inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Akinori Iwamura fields the ball in the third inning before throwing Jimmy Rollins out at first. [James Borchuck, Times]

Rocco Baldelli is out at the plate in the second inning in a collision with Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Rocco Baldelli collides with catcher Carlos Ruiz in the second inning. Baldelli was called out on the play, the final out of the inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Rocco Baldelli slides into home plate in the second inning. He was tagged out by catcher Carlos Ruiz on the play for the final out of the second inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Jason Barlett stands on first base after hitting a single to load the bases in the second inning. Phillies players confer on the pitchers mound. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Philadelpia Phillies Chase Utley looks back towards the outfield after missing a ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays Akinori Iwamura during the second inning. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

Pitcher Brett Myers wipes his forehead while the bases were loaded in the second inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Dioner Navarro after hitting a single in the second inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays Akinori Iwamura is congratulated after getting the first run of the game during the second inning. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays Jason Bartlett connects at the plate to score Akinori Iwamura for the first run of the game. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

B.J. Upton reaches second base safely in the first inning. Upton hit a single and advanced on a Phillies error. [Edmund Fountain, Times]

Akinori Iwamura advances to third base in the first inning after a hit by B.J. Upton. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Brett Myers pitches in the first inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shieds is congratulated at the dug out after a 1-2-3 first inning. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

Evan Longoria bobbles a hard hit but was able to throw the runner out at first base in the first inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Tampa Bay Rays B.J. Upton plays catch at the beginning of the first inning. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

James Shields pitches in the first inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

James Shields pitches in the first inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

The color guard exits through center field after the National Anthem before the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Philadelphia Phillies during Game two of the World Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Thursday evening (10/23/08). [Dirk Shadd, Times]

The National Anthem is performed before the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Philadelphia Phillies during Game two of the World Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Thursday evening. [Dirk Shadd, Times]

Joe Maddon talks with the media before Thursday's World Series Game 2 at the Trop. [James Borchuck, Times]

Rocco Baldelli takes batting practice before Thursday's World Series Game 2 at the Trop. Baldelli will hit in the 8th spot in the lineup. [James Borchuck, Times]

The media circus in front of the Rays dugout before the game. [Brian Cassella, Times]


Rays pitcher Matt Garza warms up for batting practice. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir and Andy Sonnanstine wait to take batting practice before Thursday's game. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Comments

[Amanda]

Pineapple-
Think you hit the nail on the head with that one. I completely agree.

[scoreless joe jackson]

Here's the box score:

Game One

pitching = Advantage EVEN
catching(defense)= Advantage Rays
hitting = Advantage Phils
running = Advantage Phils

Game Two

pitching = Advantage Rays
catching(defense)= Advantage Rays
hitting = Advantage EVEN
running = Advantage Rays

Game Three

pitching = Advantage Rays
catching (defense) = Advantage Rays
hitting = ?
running = ?

It's all even until the Rays bats come alive.

We are in for 6-7 games of this.

[rick broye]

BJ UPTON SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MVP DURING THE ALCS! HE WAS THE HITTER, HE WAS THE FIELDER AND HE SENT HIS BAT TO COOPERSTOWN!!

[Whitney Johnson]

uhhh ... no thanks MD ... won't be using any of those LAME taglines

PLEASE .. do not quit your day job to be a writer

[MD]

OK, here are my taglines for tomorrow night's game, and the Series in general.

Tomorrow - "Moyer's old enough to be Garza's daddy, but Garza will BE his daddy."

The Series - "Beat 'em like a red-hatted stepchild."

Feel free to borrow and repeat when necessary.

[Intergallactic Pineapple]

BJ is a good player ... but he is a follower .. he is NOT a leader -- that's why they had to get those other 2 cancers out of that locker room. Think it's working out pretty well for them so far!

[M]

We all know, for the most part, if he has or does not have a chance to beat out a throw. What he does NOT know is if the ball is going to be fielded cleanly or not, which is certainly possible on a DP when you have a teammate sacrificing his body to break it up. You are obligated to get your a@@ down the line. This is the WORLD SERIES, not a company softball game.

Look, he has the most talent on the team, no doubt. And I don't think he is lazy. I think when he gets frustrated with an unproductive AB, he gets upset with HIMSELF and "pouts" down to first. It is still unacceptable, but I don't think it's an overall lack of competitveness. I really do like him but this has to change!

[McLame]

Shut the F up about BJ Upton hustling. I think he knows when he has no chance to beat out the throw.

[TC]

Wow a sport bar in Boston wouldn't play the World Series! They don't deserve to be a sport bar!! I really had no idea just what sore loosers Boston was until this year! OH WELL HA HA!! Go RAYS!!

Boston--the whiniest team with the winiest fans in MLB.

What sore losers.

[Brian J]

I am honeymooning in the Boston area, and the sports bar refused to play the world series. Again, SPORTS BAR refused to play the WORLD SERIES. I love these people. The hotel t.v. worked perfectly. Go Rays!

[Einhard]

It is probably futile, but a few points about Upton.
1. He is the best player on the team and to trade him would be foolish. It is almost impossible to get anything close to equal value and his departure would leave a gaping hole in CF and the lineup which could not be filled by anyone in the organization or anyone available in a trade or on the free agent market. The dropoff between Upton and anyone the Rays could conceivably acquire is enormous; we are talking about a talent the magnitude of Sizemore or Beltran if his shoulder problem is fixed.

2. Far from being lazy or unmotivated, Upton is a dedicated and committed player. There has never been a question about his work ethic or the effort he puts into improving his play. As a minor leaguer, he was known for his extraordinary willingness to practice and work at his craft. Combined with intelligence and attention to his mentors, he is a model player.

3. Far from being part of some mythical 3 amigos with Young and Dukes, he was never part of any such group. In fact, it was Upton who laid into Young after the bat throwing incident and encouraged him to apologize and accept his penalty without complaint or excuses. He did have a DUI which is a black mark against him (as it is for LaRussa and many others) but hardly merits a blanket condemnation of his character.

4. He is universally liked and respected by his teammates, and you will never find one unkind word from any of the beat writers because he is always cooperative and forthright in dealing with them. Maddon has gone to great pains to separate his specific criticisms from any overall attack on Upton's character which he has repeatedly praised, and for which he has earned Upton's obvious affection and respect.

5. He did make some mistakes earlier this year. (I should add there is nothing unusual about that with young players. Enos Slaughter comes to mind as a player who had to be reprimanded early in his career. Henry Aaron was considered a lazy player throughout the 1950s by many fans.) But he accepted the criticism without complaint and has worked to overcome the negative image that talk radio tried to tar him with. Only people who take talk radio blather seriously can believe that Upton does not give his all; that is purely the rantings of ratings obsessed sleaze merchants.

To sum up, Upton is a dedicated, supremely talented player who should be the centerpiece of the Rays near future and who deserves the gratitude of Rays' fans for his contributions to the Rays current and I think future success.

[JJ Jones]

Moyer is going to get lit up in Game 3. Think Wakefield in Game 4 of the ALCS.

[Helene]

Thoughts, Part Deux

1. Did Joe Maddon actually call a bunt? That we actually executed? *faints*
2. Two bad calls...that were to OUR advantage? *faints again*
3. I was nervous about Price being on the postseason roster. I was an idiot.
4. Boy, Shields dodged a lot of bullets, didn't he?
5. Awesome heads up play, Rocco.
6. These have been two great "old school" games...just what I expected from these two teams...
7...Though I'm hoping for a good ol' fashioned blow out win Saturday. ;) Let's shell Moyer!

[GeeZer]

I must have seen a different game than most of the writers who seem to feel the Rays dominated the game last night. The Phillies had people on base all the time and our defensive half of the inning seem to constantly be a struggle with walks, wild pitches and errors. They would get out of their half with 6 pitch half innings, while Pena muscled balls back to the pitcher, infield etc. Longoria is terrible. He is striking out, getting called out, and making errors and still people are saying how great he is..he needs to wake up or Aybar needs to come in because in my opinion, he plays as good on third base and he hits. The rest of the group needs to quit patting themselves on the back and start playing like they did in Boston because, the Phillies might just start figuring out how to get all those runners on base in and the score will be like 11 to 4.

[Robert]

Einhard is completely wrong about BJ's hustle on the single to right that Werth bobbled. He dogged it down the line and was nearly thrown out at second as a consequence.Once again his physical skills made up for a mental blunder, but I for one hope the Rays take advantage of his fine post-season performance to improve the team by trading him, the last of the "Three Amigos" (Dukes, Young, and Upton), in the off-season.

[Einhard]

Not only is it entirely untrue that Upton did not hustle on the DP ball, but on the contrary, it was only because of his alertness and hustle that he reached second on Werth's bobble of his single and later scored on a ground out. This myth that Upton does not hustle is utter nonsense.

[bernie]

BJ playing great but did anyone else notice him reverting back to the "no hustle" on ground balls last night and again tonight? Yeah, realize he has been one of the few hitting the ball and his throw was great BUT--on those routine ground balls that ended up being double plays, just one slight bobble and he could beat it out. All we ask is hustle all the time, like Aki and Pena, etc..

[harold]

Hey Philly. thats why they call him BiG Game James.