American League Championship Series, Game 4

27 outs from the World Series

Rays take another at Fenway Park, 13-4. Take tomorrow off. You deserve it.

(Pictured, above: Willy Aybar hits a two-run homer in the third inning, giving the Rays a 5-0 lead. Times photo -- Brian Cassella.)

30 outs from the World Series

Enjoy

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Drip, drip, drip ...

There's a feeling of inevitability around these parts right now. Sonnanstine just keeps logging outs. He's retired 12 straight since the Cash home run. Getting desperate here. They usually jam good tunes on the Fenway PA, but they've reverted to Journey.

Five innings in the books

Sonnanstine has allowed just two hits and has settled in. Manny Delcarmen in to pitch for Boston and manager Terry Francona can afford to burn some innings with an idle day tomorrow.

All of this poses the question. Do you SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING?

Sonnanstine is looking ...

... a lot like the guy who hammer-locked the White Sox in Game 4 of the ALDS.

Wakefield is removed. Masterson entering, which means things get tougher.

And I'd have to check this, but somebody must have moved home plate closer to the Green Monster. Plate techtonics. Something. Willy Aybar's homer just soared out of here.

(Pictured, left: Andy Sonnanstine. Times photo -- Brian Cassella.)

Interesting insight into the Red Sox Nation pysche.

Click down to "Confidence Meter"

Not to nitpick ...

... but the Rays just let Wakefield off with a four-pitch inning.

What we learned in just a half inning:

+ Tim Wakefield's knuckler wasn't so much knuckling as tumbling up to the plate like a rolled up sock at 60 mph.

+ The Rays can hit rolled-up socks (except for Iwamura, Aybar and Perez).

+ The Red Sox are seemingly defenseless against the Rays' run game with Wakefield on the mound. Upton stole standing up, gliding in, and Crawford took third on a closer play.

(Pictured, right: Tim Wakefield. Times photo -- Brian Cassella.)

The knucker ain't a-knucklin ...

... more so soaring.

And bullpen activity for Boston.

Game time (whoo)

All right, let's get some predictions.

Oh, and a side note. This place will be sold out tonight, but the crowd is very late in arriving. Thousands of red seats in the upper levels are exposed. Boston traffic is awful, but come on. The White Sox "blackout" put these guys to shame.

Does this pitch stand between the Rays and a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series?

5:05 p.m., Boston, Mass.: The Red Sox are stretching in one of the few remaining sun-washed corners of Fenway Park and the Rays have yet to take the field as the teams ready for Game 4. Tampa Bay can take a 3-1 lead in the series if Andy Sonnanstine replicates his effort of Game 4 of the ALDS against Chicago.

The wind is blowing out, which might make Tim Wakefield's wiffle -- er, -- knuckleball dance like drop of water on a red-hot frying pan. Or it might flatten it out for walloping off the Green Monster. That's why they play the game, right?

--- BRANT JAMES

Comments

[MikeD]

props to Novangelus for showing up and sticking it around. Another amazing game, in what has been an amazing season and postseason. BJ is my choice for MVP so far, but Carlos is a close second. We'll see what happens Thursday, but so far I have to think of this as the Schadenfreude Series.

[todd]

Simply awesome.
I've got the fever. Had it since around May when I realized personally how good this team would be.
Rays are indeed.
The new "Beasts of the East".

World Series........????

[Mary]

Does anyone else really hate that flame-thrower nonsense in the infield when they introduce the Rays starters at the ALDS and ALCS first games? We're not going to do that for the World Series, are we?
It's so tacky.

[SJ]

Amanda,
But of course the TBS announcers are biased against the sux, they're the underdogs! Get it? THE UNDERDOGS! SO there! And they Can Still Win even if it's Down In Tampa!

I say if they have to come back to the trop, we all hang out outside their broadcast booth and ring cowbells at them so loud the TV audience will be spared the BS.

PS, to the Rays fans up at Fenway...U R AWSUM!!!

[Helene]

Oh. My. I am so freaking happy I can't possibly go to sleep for awhile.

9-8, 9-1, and then we win by 9 runs tonight. Wonder if tomorrow we'll clinch by a score of 5-4, 6-3, etc?

Helene=Dork

[Mark Ferguson]

I'm really hoping that the Sox can somehow steal the game on Thursday and stretch this series out to 7 games.
CHA CHING!

[Mike]

Edwin is either gonna strike you out or walk you. Kind of like Dice-K. Hopefully the Rays will stay hot against him. If not, you don't want to face Beckett and Lester again.

[Amanda]

Night, everyone. See you guys Thursday!

[Raysfan]

Oops, sorry Tom I thought you said that about your nails!

[Hammer]

see ya'all thursday...GO RAYS!!!!!!!

[Raysfan]

Dont bite those nails too much Tom! Mine are getting pretty low too!

[Raysfan]

RAYS WIN RAYS WIN RAYS WIN! yay! Not like we didnt know that was gonna happen in the 2nd inning.

[Tom]

Good night all. Sleep well and we'll wrap it up Thursday night.

[Jon]

everyone pop open a Sam Adams. RAYS WIN

[Hammer]

RAYS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tom]

YES!

[CJ]

these TBS dorks think this will go to 7 games.

[Raysfan]

Oh my gosh! They said st pete. Call the presses, they got it right!

[Jon]

you're right amanda, i've read that, too. by the way, i'm 'seminolejon' on the boston blogs. LOL

[Hammer]

There ya go E-Jax, c'mon just ONE MORE!

[harold]

Nice stat on TBS
Bosox have come back 4 times from 3-1 deficits. 1 one of 15 teams to come back.
I am going to enjoy this then start biting my fingenails tomorrow morning.which by the way,are down to the quick from saturdays game.
Dice K on Thursday represents Bostons
Best chance IMHO. I love Jackson Coming in late with that heat. This may be the future for him so that his brain doesnt get a chance to get working.

[Tom]

And the Rays are a much better team than either the Phillies or the Dodgers.

[Amanda]

Raysfan-
It's funny, but all the bloggers on the Boston.com Red Sox blog are complaining that the announcers are biased against THEM, and favoring the Rays!

[Amanda]

Jackson looks like a nervous wreck out there. Appears to be trembling, and it's not THAT cold out.

[Tom]

Joe Buck will be great on the World Series. It's on FOX

[Jon]

get edwin out of there, NOW

[Raysfan]

Do you think for the WS they could get some annoucers that don't favor any team playing the Rays?? It really makes me angry, not once have I heard anything about them being good and that they deserve this.

[Hammer]

Friday night the Rays were tight at the plate. They've been nothing but stick since. Having said that, Daisuke is a real threat. However the Rays will have Big Game James representin' at the mound (if not Kazmir.) Rays in 5!!!!!! Go Rays!!!!

[Jon]

you're right. my bad

[Payback is a Palin]

Oh, good lord, TBS - does milk money come out of the teat of the Red Sox cow?

[Tom]

I nailed the first series. Rays in 4.
In print.

[Tom]

I did predict Rays in 6 before it started, but I'll gladly be wrong for rays in 5.

[Raysfan]

Wow, how you did that, I have no idea. I know I was pretty horse on Monday, its going away a tad bit. Thankfully, I work in a library, so talking quietly is ok for me at work.

[Tom]

Don't be so sure about Shields Thursday. I think Maddon is leaning toward Kazmir on normal four days rest. He pitches great and Fenway, and if we lose to Dice-K again, then Shields and Garza are fresh as daisies back at home.
I'd start Kaz!!

[Raysfan]

HA! Tom that would be great. I agree as much as it would be awesome for them to do it at home, getting to spray that Champagne and have that celebration the the Sox locker room would be priceless. Then of course, we would get to welcome them home at the airport, which would be great as well.

[Amanda]

Jon-
Daisuke vs. Kaz, more likely. Shields is schedules, but Joe hinted he'd have Kaz in on Thursday if we were up 3-1.

[Sue]

I'll do you one better Raysfan...I went to the Bucs game Sunday. Typing is my only means of communication now aside from a few hoarse whispers. At least the hangover is starting to subside.....

[Raysfan]

Well yes, no game 6, but I know that we had trouble Friday night with Daisuke. He just worries me a bit because he is a good pitcher.

[Tom]

As much as it'd be fun to see them clinch at the Trop, I'd really like the perverse pleasure of seeing the Rays popping champagne on the mound at Fenway, singing "Sweet Caroline''. That'd be sweet.

[Jon]

dice K vs Shields in game 5. there won't be a game 6 LOL

[Raysfan]

Do we have to face Daisuke again?? I cant remember who is pitching thursday and then in game 6 if need be.

[Jon]

I agree Tom. It would have been nice, but not nearly as nice to beat the Angels. It's so great to beat these guys at Fenway before their stunned fans.

[Novangelus]

Okay I'm going to go drink a few more pints and nod off - see you all Thursday - same time, different score (hopefully).

D A I S U K E !!!

[harold]

Exactly Tom
They are the champs and it means more to beat them.No backing in
I Too Love Youk and hate Youk.
ANd Nova There is plenty of game left aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand plenty of time to be hatin
Peace

[Tom]

Yeah, I've been DVR'ing every game. I blew it it Game 2 though, only taped 4.5 hours. Figured that'd be long enough.

[Raysfan]

Oh geeze Sue, that was a horrible day on Sunday for me. I went to the game on Friday night, then shut the bar down on Saturday for the game, I hated my life on Sunday, and even on Monday.

[Tim]

I wish we could get a camera in the booth.. The TBS announcers ALL must be wearing pink "B" caps !!! "This is good for the Sox to be hitting this late in the game. It will do wonders for their confidence in game 5." can we all scream at our TV's .. W-T-F !!!!!!!!!!!

[Tom]

And I so love that it's the Red Sox we're pounding. You want to be the champ, then beat the champs! It's just the way it should be.

[Sue]

I hear ya Raysfan, I'm still recovering from Saturday night/Sunday morning's game.

[Payback is a Palin]

Nova in Spanish means "no go." Or something like that. Kinda like the Blow Sox offense.