Rays readying for Game 3
The Rays and Red Sox are getting ready for Game 3 of the ALCS on a sunny and surprisingly warm afternoon at Fenway Park.
The Rays have Rocco Baldelli, the Rhode Island native, in the lineup in rightfield and Willy Aybar at DH against Sox lefty Jon Lester. The Sox tinkered with their lineup, dropping Jed Lowrie and starting Alex Cora at shortstop, a tactic they use against some hard-throwing right-handers.
Manager Joe Maddon said he had not made a final decision yet, but it did not sound like he would use either RHP Dan Wheeler, who threw 48 pitches Saturday, or rookie LHP David Price, worked Friday and Saturday.
The full lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Crawford, lf
Aybar, dh
Navarro, c
Baldelli, rf
Bartlett, ss
Garza, p
RED SOX
Ellsbury, cf
Pedroia, 2b
Ortiz, DH
Youkilis, 3b
Drew, rf
Bay, lf
Kotsay, 1b
Varitek, c
Cora, ss
Lester, p
*
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Rays Fan-
Though the Ruth deal was the proverbial final straw, their hatred goes back to the old times, when the Yankees fans were the pompous jerks and the Red Sox fans were the gritty and lovable underdogs. Remember those days? Seems like only a few years ago....
Posted by: Amanda | October 13, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Perez should be starting in CF and Upton in RF. (I hope I'm wrong) Baldelli is going 0-4 w/ 3 Ks.
LET"S GO RAYS!!!!!!!! BUCK FOSTON!!!!
Posted by: I love Rocco, but | October 13, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Does anyone know why the Red Sox and Yankees hate each other? I don't. To me, it seems like they are exactly the same team...old, overpaid, underperforming, and always complaining.
I'll take the Rays...underpaid, over-achieving, young, and soon-to-be AL Champs. Red Sox "Nation" reminds me of the "Raider Nation"...all show, no go.
Posted by: Rays Fan | October 13, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Sometimes we have so many weapons I forget how versatile of a team we have. The Rays suck? We won the AL East be reasonable. We are young and will be back next year. Boston will also but about 150 million poorer.
Posted by: joeh | October 13, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Rays suck! Thats what im talking about BOSOX! way to take a home game away from those Rookies
Posted by: Nick | October 13, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Rocco has a sweet homecoming. Opposite field dinger...
Posted by: JB | October 13, 2008 at 03:18 PM
There is no way that Garza goes 8 shut-out. 7 innings 2 ER. Lester gets touched up for 3 ER through 6 innings. Rays win 5-3.
Posted by: Greg Rhodes | October 13, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Horn Rimmed Glasses is a genuis. I was thinking 5 runs, but will take 4.
The good guys will beat these punks with the 7,8,9 part od the lineup.
GO RAYS NATION!!!
aka Seabiscuit 2008
Posted by: REX | October 13, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Here's calling to calling the game today. Garza goes 8 shut out. Balfour for the 9th. He throws some heat at Youkilis in the head and makes him cry like a girl. 97 plus. Balfour keeps the AL East flamethrower tradition alive of getting under Youks skin. very much ala Joba Chamberlin. The Blue Jays and Orioles have any flame throwers?
Rays win 4-0. Garza, 8 shut out, 8 ks. Pena goes deep to that short porch in right. He's due. I want to see the rays steal some bags this game! Play Rays ball! Make varitek work. Show how overrated he is!
Them Rays are wicked good!
Posted by: Horn Rimmed Glasses | October 13, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Not suprisingly, Wheeler won't be available after going 3+ innings on Saturday night/Sunday morning. If the Rays are fortunate enough to have the lead going into the 9th, I believe that J.P. Howell should be given the chance to close out the game. I would set him up with Balfour, and I would utilize Miller against Ortiz, Drew, or Kotsay.
Posted by: Pete | October 13, 2008 at 02:09 PM