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

[Tom]

30 OUTS TO GO!!!!

[Hammer]

E-JAX!!!

[Raysfan]

Even though, Im pretty sure they cant make a come back, I still cant get myself to turn off the game and watch something else, or to go to bed.

[Payback is a Palin]

Oh, there's plenty of mutual hate left, Nova.

[CJ]

Hey Novangelus, only one more game of this series.

[Chris]

Rays Fan Here from Virginia!
Roots Roots for the TB RAYS!!!

[Payback is a Palin]

As much as it pains me to say it, I LOVE the way Youkilis plays!!!!!

[Tom]

I have to work tomorrow night, but have Thursday night off, so I'm kind of happy about the schedule. Party time now!! I hope they start Kazmir.

[Raysfan]

Amanda, I am with ya. I hate days off! its so agonizing to wait! I just want everyone to be able to say the Rays are going to the WS finally.

[Novangelus]

Thanks for the props, but let's not get too cozy there's still three more games in this series!

[Payback is a Palin]

And ya gotta love Maddon; he's still managing it like it's a one-run game. That's awesome!!!

[Chris]

Youkilis - You Can Kiss My ***

[CJ]

Got to give what's left of the crowd credit with the lets go papi chants.

[Amanda]

My only gripe right now is that we have a day off tomorrow and have to wait til Thursday for the clincher. That's not bad for the boys, of course, but I'm being selfish and impatient here!

[Tom]

Look on the bright side, Nova. You could be a Cubs fan!!!

[Simon from Indy]

Tom- You are not the only Tampa Bay Tays fan in Indy, join the club.

[Tim]

Does anyone smell a comeback ???!!

OH CRAP !! My Tortino's pizza is burning !!!

[CJ]

Payback, I'll sit too.

And send a big case of depends to the red sox nation.

[Novangelus]

Thank goodness Sonnanstine is finally out. Next thing you know we'll be down by single digits.. Warm up Papelbon!.. ugh I can't even fake it anymore..ha..

Yeah I agree - TBS has been atrocious.

[Tom]

Kudos to Sonnenstine. His last three starts against the Red Sox have been HUGE!!!!!!! Not a bad 5th starter!!

[Hammer]

Damn, Boston 3. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

[Hammer]

Way to go Andy!!!!!! Go Rays!!!!!

[CJ]

bummer 13-3

[Payback is a Palin]

CJ - remember to pull the pants down or at least open the zipper. After this celebration I'll probably sit to pee since my aim may be a little off. Kinda like Wakefield's knuckleball.

[harold]

Just gettin here
Out to Dinner with the Wife for our anniversary but everybody at the Resturant was talking about the Game. way to be classy Nova
I second Amanda's Statement
Good luck IN the Next game.
Anybody seen Anthony He, Unlike Nova has not shown any class

[CJ]

13-2 better ha ha

[Tom]

I may be the ONLY Rays fan in Indianapolis!

[Chris]

12-2 haha

[Tom]

You have to give TBS a little break, because now that I'm living somewhere else, it's amazing how NO ONE knows anything about this team outside of the Tampa Bay area. They're our little secret!!!!!

[Kim]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

[CJ]

Hope this game ends soon, I'm runnin out of beer.

I have a TV in my bathroom, no need to pee my pants.

[Hammer]

Aybar? Upton? Heck, Jim Hickey gets my vote.

[Kim]

All I have to say is UNBELIEVABALE!!!!

GO RAYS!!!!!!

[Tim]

If they weren't so damned obnoxious I would almost feel bad for them ...

Key word here : "Almost"

[Amanda]

Hard to call that, Brant, but Pena would be a great candidate. Not only has he hit some blasts, but he's been stellar at first, too.

[Raysfan]

Ha ha, cj, i think that sounds like a great idea. Im sure they were glad that inning was over. Just one more and they will be done with the misery.

[Payback is a Palin]

"Who are these guys?" Classic TBS ignorance because it was NOT a rhetorical question.

[BRANT]

CJ, you vote for whoever you like.

[Raysfan]

Wow, they just keep scoring like its nothing on these guys..

[CJ]

Mercy rule?

[Raysfan]

Thats a hard one Brant, Crawford is doing pretty awesome tonight...

[Jeff Garcia]

Can I pitch for the Red Sox in the next game? I can make short passes, and I love handling balls.

[CJ]

BRANT, can I vote for the whole team?

[BRANT]

Question: If the series ended tonight, who is the MVP?

[CJ]

I was going to say that too Amanda, now I don't have to.

Nice to have a humble Sox fan

[Sue]

Nova I can understand that, and even more I appreciate fans like you. The banter and trash talk is fun, losing never is. No hard feelings?

[Stephen King]

For the record, I'm writing the outline of my next horror novel....working title "The Fourth Game of the 2008 ACLS"....

I loved the shot of the Sox fans OUTSIDE the stadium after the 7th inning!!! WOW PRICELESS

[Amanda]

Hey Nova-
You're not as bad as you seemed at first. Just don't tell anyone I said that.

[Novangelus]

Not much to say from me lately, Sue. The score says it all.