American League Championship Series, Game One

"They ended up being better. We pushed them, we pushed them, they pushed back. We could never overtake them. Now is our chance to overtake them."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona on Thursday.

The Red Sox follow through with an impressive push-back on Friday night in Game One.

Some notes:

+ The Red Sox extended their postseason win streak to a club-record six games.

+ Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth to set the postseason record for most career scoreless innings (20.2) over 13 outings, passing Joe Niekro (20).

AND THE NUGGET THE OF THE NIGHT:

+ In 38 previous ALCS matchups, the Game One winner has gone on to win the series 23 times (62 percent).

See you tomorrow for Game 2: Josh Beckett vs. Scott Kazmir.

Double ouch

Red Sox win Game One 2-0 as Papelbon continues to ridiculous postseason perfection.

Ouch

Second straight inning the Rays are one swing from changing the complexion of the game and cannot produce the big hit.

Do you know what the Rays need right now? Do you?

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Red Sox bullpen activity

Manny Delcarmen suddenly up.

No-hitter jinx material

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Random thoughts ...

... That shift against Carlos Pena just preserved the no-hitter. Dustin Pedroia was right where he needed to be ... And what was Gabe Gross doing swinging at a 3-0 pitch (that he popped up for the third out in the sixth)?

I'm no baseball coach or anything ...

... but it's going to be pretty hard to win this thing without a hit. Dice-K no-hitter through five. Akinori Iwamura might have just come closest to one but J.D. Drew flagged down his gapper to right-center.

Bad sign if you're pulling for the Rays:

After batting .222 against the Angels in the AL Division Series, Kevin Youkilis is 2-for-2 with a double.

Good sign if you're pulling for the Rays:

The rest of the Sox lineup continues to do nothing. Youkilis has the only hits of the game and his fourth-inning single was negated by an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play by J.D. Drew.

Locked in

James Shields and Dice-K pitched 1-2-3 second innings after extremely eventful first ones. Early jitters now aside, it appears they have locked in.

Three innings down ...

... and seven in a row down for James Shields. Dice-K is just as hot despite a walk to Carlos Pena in the third. Interesting, by the way, to see the Red Sox employed the exaggerated shift on Pena with 2B Dustin Pedroia roving in shallow right field.

Now it's a pitchers' duel

James Shields and Dice-K pitched 1-2-3 second innings after extremely eventful first ones. Early jitters now aside, it appears they have locked in.

Can you take seven games of this?

The entire place was standing from the first batter on. Runners on base, drama!, near-calamity! Playoff baseball is not good for your health. Huge job of James Shields getting out of that inning scoreless.

8:37 Game time (hoo!)

Who's gut's in knots. Who's feeling good. Talk to me, people.

The anthem, with soul

The Kid killed it again Friday night. B.J. Jackson, a 17-year-old senior and sax standout from Tampa’s Blake High School, performed such a stirring rendition of the National Anthem to start the Divisional Series at the Trop last week that the Rays asked him back to kick off the ALCS. And once again, the crowd went crazy for B.K. The players love his playing, too – last week leftfielder Carl Crawford talked about how the teen “killed it” and got the team fired up. “That was an unforgettable experience last week,” Jackson said prior to the start of the Rays-Red Sox game. “I’ve played the National Anthem here a couple of times before, but it was nothing like that. I’ve never played in so many people.” Jackson admits he was a little nervous, but once he started playing the jitters disappeared. His soulful, smooth jazz version cascaded through the Trop, followed by thunderous applause. Jackson never got a chance to meet any players, but heard they liked it. “It was definitely something to know that I could, somehow, motivate them in any way,” he said. “We’re just so proud of him,” said his mom, Regina Jackson Underwood, accompanied by beaming dad Ralph Jackson. B.K. hopes to attend FAMU, USF or UCF next year. And who knows, if the Rays make it to the World Series, the Kid might just have to come back for another rousing encore.
- DAVE SCHEIBER

Game time

B.K

About an hour to game time and the place is filling in. The Rays seem relaxed and confident despite the absolute crush of media and dignitaries on the field, but the Red Sox, the defending World Champions, are hardly in awe either.

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, an MVP candidate who had a woeful ALDS against Anaheim, was out early, sitting alone in the dugout and enjoying a chew.

"This is a baseball game, bro."

- Red Sox DH David Ortiz on supposed lingering animosity in the storied Rays-Boston rivalry.

3B Kevin Youkilis said the expectation of bad blood is "getting old."

So the Red Sox are feeling - or at least talking - kind of like this. The Rays seem to just want to get on with getting on to the World Series and the Red Sox happen to be in the way.

"It had to be them, right?" starting pitcher James Shields quipped.

It all begins in about eight hours, and the intensity level in the seats at Tropicana Field should go far in determining the intensity level on the field.

What are your feelings? (And I ask with a certain expectation of the answer.)

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Observations from afield

There was a time not long ago when the gas station at the corner of Park Boulevard and 71st Street was the place to find quality panther-print rugs at affordable prices. Not anymore. Stopped at the light en route to the Trop from my palatial Largonole estate, I noticed that the rugs were gone, replaced by all sorts of pro-Ray, anti-Red Sox shirts. Times are changing ... but I'm kinda bummed about the rugs.

They're heeeeeere

You knew Red Sox fans were going to get in, and judging by the red fringe adorning the Boston lineup, they've gotten in en masse. Rays fans are likely to hear way more "Yoooouk!" cheers than they care for.

--- BRANT JAMES

Comments

[Gene]

I'm ready now, I can't imagine how the players are going to keep themselves calm through all the goings on before this game! Rays fans, a strategically placed cowbell up side the head of Sox fans that bought scalped tickets should be the order of the night! Go Rays...Make noise Rays fans, this is our house!

[9equals8.com]

Last Rays vs. Red Sox series, a handful of Rays fans had to administer some cowbell to an obnoxious Sox fan. It was quite fun. Not as fun as seeing that Sox fan on the dugout about to be tazed, but still fun.

[mm]

Definitely fun! I sit in rightfield and it's always rowdy out there. Any fan of the opposing team gets punished out there.

[James Shields]

I must break you

[BRANT]

All right, who's ditching work early to get a head start tonight?

[Helene]

How am I feeling? I am a ball of nervous, excited energy. 8:00 (or 5:00, at least, heh) can't come soon enough.

Got a six pack, chips n' dip, and apparently, a brand new Rays shirt (aw, thanks honey) waiting at home.

Woo hoo!

[Amanda]

Helene! Haven't heard from you in a bit!
Sweet that your honey got you a new shirt... can you believe that me and mine actually fight about baseball?!

[Helene]

Amanda--yeah, I took a little break posting....I've been lurking and reading though.

You fight over it, really? As in he likes a different team or (horror of horrors) doesn't like baseball?! ;)

My husband's also a big baseball fan...I'm just a much bigger nerd about it than he is. But he generally supports me in my nerdiness.

[Amanda]

He... doesn't like baseball. I know. It's hard for me to admit it. I consider it his tragic flaw.

[BRANT]

All right, prediction time. I need thoughts on Game One and the series.

[hockeyjoker]

Rays fan (from st. pete) living in Boston here. I wore my TB hat on the T (subway)and didn't get in any trouble. wish me luck on the evening commute.
The best is when the morons around here say that i am a bandwagon fan. I just calmly look them in the eye and let them know that i was at the inaugural game.
Still a majority of red sox fans aren't too disgusting.
Prediction: Rays in 6

[MikeD]

thoughts and prediction on Game 1 -
low scoring, Shields goes into the 6th and holds the Sox to five runs or less.

One solo homer for each side - BJ for the Rays, Ortiz for the Soxes

4-2 Rays final

[SOX1FAN]

Sorry Rays fans, but the carriage turns back into a pumpkin over the next week. Shields looked like he felt the pressure against the White Sox in the LDS... how to you think he'll respond in the LCS?

Please don't get upset at my declaration, if you have ever been to my website (www.sox1fan.com) you know that -- back in spring training -- I predicted the Rays would be a much better team this year. And you also know that I think the Rays are an exciting, young team whose better days lie ahead. I REALLY like what the Rays organization has done -- not only at the major league level but also at the minor league level.

But the team's inexperience THIS SEASON will be a major factor in this series.

Red Sox in 6.

[BRANT]

SOX1FAN, you seem to have demoralized the group. No more chatter.

[Novangelus]

go rays but wow i've never seen shields look so scared before. he was shaking. ugh. looks like we're in for a blowout. who's pitching tomorrow?

[BRANT]

Scott Kazmir vs. Josh Beckett.

[MikeD]

Big Game James nervous? Doesn't look like it from here.

[BRANT]

He certainly seems locked in now. Escaping that first inning scoreless was a big break.

[Anthony]

"Escaping that first inning" thanks to a warning track made of ground-up superballs.

[BRANT]

Actually I think they're mooshed-up tires. I have no idea actually. I'm just yanking your chain.

[BRANT]

All right, no-hitter pool. Who's in? Who breaks it up?

[Anthony]

I've got a pool going to see how long we can go without someone other than BRANT saying something about the Rays' first ever ALCS appearance after days of smack talking. It's been over an hour now.

[BRANT]

Ouch.

[BRANT]

Anthony, did you have Crawford in the pool?

[MikeD]

Longo breaks up the no-hitter. One - nothing game. 2 1/2 innings to go. Lots of time. Ooops - it was CC. /smack talk

[Anthony]

To post here? I don't think he did. 80 mins and counting

[MikeD]

keep talkin', Anthony. Seems to be helping us.

[BRANT]

Floyd on first base here could be problematic.

[Anthony]

"Seems to be helping us."

Yeah, 2 LOB, that must have been very exciting.

[MikeD]

Yikes. That coulda worked out better. Top of the order coming up, though.

[dah]

Why didn't Madden pinch run Perez for Floyd? Second and third, no outs, they give up the tying run on any ground out. Blown chance. Rays need to be aggresive.

[MikeD]

Team LOB through seven- sox 5, Rays 6

[BRANT]

Best guess is there they shortened their bench by adding a pitcher (Edwin Jackson) and removing a position player (Eric Hinske) this round. It pretty much would have taken a three-run homer to score Floyd from first.

[Anthony]

Team LOB during an inning where an opposing team's fan was "helping" by posting on a blog, and said "help" resulted in no runs - Rays 2, Sox 0

[BRANT]

Youkilis got the double via the official scorer, but that ball looked catchable by Carl Crawford, especially for a player of his defensive caliber.

[SOX1FAN]

I know Francona has won two championships, but his in-game management leaves a LOT to be desired. He got seven great innings and 109 pitches outta Dice-K, but THAT wasnt good enough. What a horse's *%^

[BRANT]

Somebody needs to give it up for the perfect cheer.

[MikeD]

Huh, Brant? Something involving percussion instruments which warn of approaching bovines?

[GK]

DAH - You nailed it...Couldn't believe that wasn't made. That should have been automatic. Get Perez on first. Steal 2nd. PH for him later with Aybar/Baldelli...

Big miss....

[MikeD]

Ah, OK. Finally watched the video. If only the Rays cheerleaders had moves like that.

[Anthony]

The smack talk is deafening in here.

This is a must-win for TB, and Papelbon's never allowed a postseason run. Come on, die hards!

[Mark]

I thought we were going to whip these villans from Boston. Home Field Advantage: Yeah Right!!!
Boston knows how to win in the playoffs, they are the World Champions!
We were too cocky and over-confident and deserve to lose. Kudos to the Red Sox. Goodnight Rays, Goodnight!!!!!!

[Anthony]

Did you hear that "yoooooooouk"? Hope you got a lot of money for those tickets.

[David]

Papelbon is awesome!!
The Red Sox are the team to beat!!
Good Luck trying Rays!!!

[SOX1FAN]

Sorry Rays fans... like I said earlier, the clock is striking twelve and the carriage is about to become a pumpkin... but look at it this way, it's almost Halloween -- so you can carve the pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern

[dah]

Madden 0-1 - He's going to have to manage his a** off during the game the rest of the series for the Rays to have a chance.

[MikeD]

Well, the better team won. Rays didn't capitalize. Congrats Anthony, and goodnight all.

[Anthony]

I am embarrassed for you fair-weather fans, let me help you out:
"I'm sure the Rays can handle the crushing pressure of a Game 1 loss"
"At least we didn't get no-hit"
"I'm sure we can win more games at Fenway than we won all season"

[Anthony]

Props to MikeD and BRANT who stuck it out.

[Helene]

*sigh*

All right, I know Maddon likes to be aggressive and quirky and unconventional and all, and he often gets away with it and sometimes it even works brilliantly. But tonight he crossed the line with this "green light on 3-0" crap. That is stupid, stupid, STUPID...it's horrible baseball in ANY situation, but especially in one when you have the opportunity TO PUT THE TYING RUN IN SCORING POSITION (with no outs, nonetheless!!!)

It's a long series, I still have faith, credit Dice K for pitching a great game, etc. But wow, was that frustrating to see. Hate to us shoot ourselves in the foot like that. Hate to see such a great start by Shields wasted.