Action from ALCS Game 4, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox

Fernando Perez and Carl Crawford high five teammates after the Rays 13-4 win over the Red Sox at Fenway. [James Borchuck, Times]

Willy Aybar is congratulated by Rays Manager Joe Maddon after the Rays 13-4 win over the Red Sox at Fenway. [James Borchuck, Times]

Red Sox fans leave during the ninth inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Edwin Jackson pitches in the 8th inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Jason Bay stands in the outfield during the 8th inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Carl Crawford slides safely into third base with a triple in the 8th inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Andy Sonnanstine is met by Jason Bartlett and Matt Garza as he leaves after the seventh inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Andy Sonnanstine pitches in the sixth inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

B.J. Upton catches a deep fly ball hit by Mark Kotsay in the seventh inning.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Carl Crawford hits an single in the sixth inning to score B.J. Upton from third base.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Willy Aybar hits a single to score Carlos Pena in the sixth inning. The rays scored five runs in the inning to take an 11-1 lead. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Jason Bartlett is greeted by teammates at the dugout after hitting a triple and later scoring on a B.J. Upton single. The Rays extended their lead to 7-1. [James Borchuck, Times]

Jason Bartlett waits for a play in the bottom of the sixth inning. the scoreboard behind him reflects the rays dominance in tonight's game.  [James Borchuck, Times]

Jason Bartlett heads towards third base after he hit a triple in the sixth inning.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Stephen King reads a book while sitting in the grandstands during the sixth inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Evan Longoria fields a hard hit grounder by Jason Bay in the fourth inning. He threw Bay out on the play to end the inning.  [James Borchuck, Times]

Carl Crawford rounds third base as he heads home to score a run and give the Rays a 6-1 lead in the fifth inning. Willy Aybar hit a single to drive Crawford in but was picked off first base after overrunning the bag. [James Borchuck, Times]

Relief pitcher Justin Masterson throws in the fourth inning.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Kevin Cash hits a solo homerun in the third inning. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Dioner Navarro rounds first base after hitting a single off the green monster in the third inning.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Willy Aybar hits a two-run homerun in the third inning to give the Rays a 5-0 lead.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona walks out to the mound in the third inning to replace starting pitcher Tim Wakefield. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Boston pitcher Tim Wakefield tries to grab a slowly hit ball by Carl Crawford in the third inning. Crawford was safe on the play. [James Borchuck, Times]

Jason Bartlett throws towards first base to complete a double play in the second inning. Mark Kotsay was forced out at second base on the play.  [James Borchuck, Times]

Evan Longoria is greeted in the dugout by teammates after he hit a solo homerun in the first inning to give the Rays a 3-0 lead.  [James Borchuck, Times]

Andy Sonnanstine pitches during the first inning of Tuesday night's ALCS game in Boston. [James Borchuck, Times]

Carl Crawford steals third base in the first inning. Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis tries to make the tag. [James Borchuck, Times]

B.J. Upton greets Carlos Pena at home plate after Pena hit a two-run homerun in the first inning to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. [James Borchuck, Times]

Evan Longoria runs around the bases after hitting a solo homerun in the first inning to give the Rays a 3-0 lead. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Carlos Pena hits a two-run homerun in the first inning to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Tim Wakefield pitches in the first inning.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Andy Sonnanstine pitches in the first inning.  [James Borchuck, TImes]

Carl Crawford, left, and Fernando Perez, right, joke around before batting practice at Fenway Park in Boston Tuesday evening.  [James Borchuck, Times]

Scott Kazmir warms up in the bullpen before Game 4 against the Red Sox. He may start Thursday's Game 5. [Brian Cassella, Times]

Jason Bartlett warms up with infield throws before Rays batting practice Tuesday evening at Fenway.  [James Borchuck, Times]

Scott Kazmir warms up in the bullpen before the game. He may start Thursday's Game 5.  [Brian Cassella, Times]

Comments

[Amy]

::sung to Sweet Caroline::

SWEET TAMPA BAY...RED SOX SUCK!

Get used to it RED SUX because it's going to be happening for QUITE a while.

HEY HEY TAMPA BAY! WORLD SERIES HERE WE COME! WOOOO!

[Boston Rays Fan]

I love the Red Sox fans calling Rays fans bandwagoners. As a guy who's from Tampa but has lived in Boston for the last 4 years, I can tell you personally that Red Sox Nation might as well be called Bandwagon Nation. Even my roommate, who is a true, lifelong Red Sox fan is embarrassed by all the pretenders up here over the last few years. Message to card-carrying tools of Red Sox nation: don't be too bummed when the Rays beat you. At least then you'll have more time to draw up pathetic anti-Manny t-shirts to go with your anti-Johnny Damon, anti-Yankees, and Yankee Hater gear. Oh, and you can watch Sox Appeal every night without having to worry about those pesky baseball games.

[harold]

Good post Amanda
Spread the love Babe.

[Jeff Sports Vortex]

Oh I love some of you guys...anyway..we will be here for you to share in your Rays delight tonight.

www.centralmainesportsblog.com

Look for the Talkshoe widget on the right...(603) 397 3559 9 - 11pm TONIGHT

[Brian J]

Amanda, I agree. Some people argue about attendance, and when it goes up during the playoffs, make fun of bandwagoners. Some people like to spoil a good tim. For me, bring on the 'wagoners, let's have a beer, and cheer for the team. Those who have been around know who's who; but, I love the electricity!

[Joe Namath]

I don't want to talk about the dead sux STRUGGGLLINNGGG ... Amanda, I wanna kiss you!

[Amanda]

I've never understood people who come on a Rays BLOG and start laughing at bandwagon fans. It's like going to a hockey blog and laughing at the town's football fans. "Um, that's great... but you realize that's not us, right?"
Really, are the majority of bandwagon fans going to be posting on this blog? No. When people come here trying to laugh at bandwagon fans, they're not actually talking to any of them (or very few). So totally pointless.

Oh, and just for the record... I have absolutely NO problem with bandwagon fans, as long as they don't try to act like they've been here the whole time. You're new? Great! Feel free to ask me any questions you have about the team or the sport itself. I'll be more than happy to educate you and turn you into a real fan. Everybody had to be new at some point. Just own it.

[Jim Rome]

Rrrrack the Wizard ... I LOVE THAT GUY ... he is EPIC!

[John Wooden]

Yes...just a day after my 99th Birthday I am witness to one of the greatest stories ever in sports and the essential breakdown of one of baseball's most storied teams.

Today, the Tampa Bay Rays mentally prepare to accept the World Series berth while the Boston Red Sox witness lug nut after lug nut come off the wheels of the Boston Bus. It's true those lug nuts are little things, but in terms of winning and FAILING, they are not.

Watch as the Red Sox complete the series on Thursday with not wheel on the bus. The Red Sox are a marketing spoof, not a winner or a baseball team!

Face it, without TBS, ESPN and the rest of the revenue prostitutes there would be no reason for Boston and LA to get any press at all. You say it is about filling seats...so, far from the truth...it is all about TV and bringing the Big One to millions of people for ADVERTISING GREED.

So, the sporting "stock" market is crashing, TOO...a 50,000 to 1 is paying off and the house is losing because of a guy just like me...a guy who knows how to turn effortless, productive capacity into intense will and Success!

Thank you, Joe Maddon, for the greatest season in baseball and more importantly, for being an honorable teacher and model to young men.

Now, let's hope that the greedy marketeers (which includes the biased journalists) can get their act together quick enough to let a 100 million or so Americans know that despite tough economic times, people can achieve their dreams!

People can design their own destiny!

Oh and maybe on Thursday, the announcers could get their names right or atleast know who's on the team, maybe?

Signed,
John Wooden Fan

[Love the Rays!]

MammaRays - Amen to that! That's the same thing I have been saying ever since the media got on this kick about the fans (which is where all this started, don't forget). It's not fair to compare Sox fans - who have been in existance 100 years - with Rays fans - who have only been around 11! Of course there are going to be bandwagoners, but who cares? The bottom line is, we have an awesome team and we are having fun. I have been a fan for several years, and have had SO much fun going to games, even when losing. So what that we didn't fill the seats - so what that now the games are sold out. Go to the games that you can, watch the rest on TV, and support our boys!!

See you at the World Series! :)

[Helene]

"Where were those fans all this time"

Eh. If you've been lurking on the blog since July, you've heard the excuses, some semi-legit, some not so much. I've had almost no money for entertainment but I did go to four games this year. Each time the stadium was close to sold out. We draw well on the weekends; it's those weekday games that are selectively held up to mockery in the media. We must do better next year though.

As for "bandwagon fans"...y'know, I've not seen a lot of people that had contempt for the Rays and ripped on them suddenly becoming fans now that we're winning (though I'm sure those losers are out there.) The newcomers seem to fall into two categories 1) They always casually followed the team and liked them but had trouble getting truly passionate until now because we were so. freaking. bad. and 2) fans that were never into baseball but have read about the Rays in the paper and whatnot, watched some games on TV, and got into it. (My husband have been teaching "Baseball 101" to several acquaintances, heh. They seem genuinely interested and excited.) I dunno. I just don't share some people's contempt for these folks.

[SJ]

I am sick to death about all this "bandwagon fan" BS. So what? Sure new Rays fans are pouring in! That's a whole lot better than the redsux (urine)ation rushing out of the stadium like rats leaving a sinking ship.
When I'm at the game, I don't care if the guy or gal next to me was in the stadium last week, last year, or 11 years ago--we're all there for the same reason!
GO RAYS!

[SJ]

Hey Brian J,
ThunderDome!
Do you remember the season ticket deposits they collected before the dome was even built--mine was one of them. They returned them all when MBL $#@^@ us and gave Miami our team. That was AWFUL.

[MammaRays]

To all of those blasting Rays fans:

Yes, there are some bandwagon fans, but that's okay. Remember, this team is only in its 11th season. It takes time to build a true long time fan base. I have been a season ticket holder for 5 years and have loved every minute of it, even when we were losing. So before you bash all Rays fans, stop and think. I'm a Rays fan. Some of my friends are fans of other teams. We can argue and have fun, but the bottom line is, we should respect all fans of the games and quit the hard core trash talking.

GO Rays!!!! 9=2

[The Guy @ 11:23]

Tampa needs to have fans like ours who bail in the 6th inning, boo their team and sit on their hands most of the game.

sniff ... sniff .. I'm choked up over the splendid popsicle stick too ... boo hoo ... sniff sniff

Remember fellow Rays fans. It's not over yet. Boston has come back from worse that this in the playoffs!!!

[to the poster at 11:14]

The Rays...awesome
The Rays fans...a sad bunch of bandwagoners, who will probably ditch them as soon as they lose the World Series.

I hear you Tom at 11:06. I felt the same way when I stopped in last week. Nice exhibit. They should have put it in Boston though.

[Tom]

Seriously guys, it was very tough walking into that museum and seeing Ted's cracked off head frozen on ice. Sniff Sniff ... I still get misty eyed thinking about that shrine to The Splendid Splinter ... even though I couldn't tell you a thing about him other than my RedSox imagiNATION handbook told me that I have to hate Yankees and worship Teddy Ballgame

gotta go ... running out of kleenex as I type this

[Jeff Sports Vortex]

Someone please call my show today!
We used to be on our 5 watt station at 3:30am but we're really hitting the big time now. Heck, we even had 3 callers over the last month that weren't blood relatives of mine!

Next month we're planning on expanding to CB Radio so stay tuned ... breaker 1-9 ... breaker 1-9 ... pssst ... OUT

[James]

How can all you guys miss what the title of the book Stephen King's reading... "When Will There Be Good News?"

Now that is classic.

[Tom]

As displaced Sox fan stated...some are diehards, but the majority are bandwagoners. Only time will tell, if they stay loyal.

No it wasn't always easy being a Sox fan. But it is a tradition for many of us. I just about broke down in tears when I visited the Ted Williams museum this year. I remember my Mom cheering on those players...a long time ago.

Enjoy the rest of the season everyone!

[Brian J]

I'm a long time baseball fan, who left and swore I would never return after '94. Getting a team in St. Pete (I can remember touring the Thunder Dome and being told it was meant for baseball)brought back an interest, but I only listened on the radio during drives and occasionally on t.v. I finally went to a game in 2002 and was hooked. The (Devil) Rays brought back my love for baseball, and I have been fighting Red Sox Nation since 2004. It has been a lopsided battle, but this year has been magical.

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but I have enjoyed sharing this blog with the regulars (I have attended about 7-8 games a year traveling from Maine) and watch our Rays explode on the scene. Oh jeez, I think this whole thing is making me sentimental!

[Brian]

I cannot stand bandwagon fans. That is the worst thing you can call a die hard fan. I'm a 4 yr season tkt holder for the Rays. Missed maybe 10 games this year because of work. WHILE IN BOSTON, with my Rays hat on...the bartender called me a bandwagon fan. He might as well spit in my drink! What a masssss-hole. I just told him it must have been easy to be a red sox fan the last 20 years because they've been over .500 for most of them and if a 4 year season tkt holder is bandwagon, THEN I'M GUILTY AS CHARGED, JERKY. We have watched laughers from the losing end at the Trop for quite a while. To all the bandwagon fans on BOTH sides...KEEP QUITE and let us real sports fans enjoy this.

[displaced Sox fan]

I live in Tampa Bay...Jeff Sports Vortex. And what I can tell you is this...there are some diehard Rays fans who have been here for the team through the good and bad. But, the majority of people doing the trash talking have only been around for the winning team. Amanda is a common poster here. She is very kind to us displaced Sox fans. And she has been a season ticket holder for years. The bandwangoners are all about winning. Heck, do you read their posts when the Rays had a bad night and lost. Their ready to burn all their Rays items. It isn't easy, nor fun, being a loyal fan when your team is losing...as the Sox are now. So, the true testament of their fan base will come not this year, but maybe as early as next year...or the year after. Because this rise will not last forever...it never does. Heck look at the Patriots this year. I figured I'd at least have them to gloat about! UGH! I've gatta go pop some Rolaids!

In the meantime...lets get behind them...congratulate them and root for an AL team's win in the World Series.

[Joe]

If red sox fans want to hang their hats on attendence numbers as a consolation prize, be my guest. See what matters is winning and losing. Everything else is tangential bunny trails.

[Jeff Sports Vortex]

See that's the thing...we have been giving you credit all season. Especially up here in Maine, I have said on many avenues, that the Rays weren't going away. Their pitching was too strong, the lineup too diverse..this is a great team. I knew it was going to be a dog fight it was..The Rays are leaving the Sox on the ground and bleeding and not much left to do. The Rays are just plain BEATING the Sox, no crying, no excuses..frankly that is what makes it a tad easier for me as a Sox fan, we are getting beat by a better team. There is no crime in that, hurts all the same, but at least we have that. As for Rays fans...look..every team has their share of Johnny Come Lately Yahoos, but from what my family is telling me (yes I have family that LIVES in the Tampa St Pete area) it is out of control. Where were those fans all this time...cripes, you had some attendance figures that rivaled the aforementioned Expos at the end. The Expos had 1994...be very very careful going forward.

[Helene]

I find it funny what sports fans take such offense to sometimes. "Oh noes! You're stealing our song! So dizrespectful111!" YEARS and YEARS of us in the cellar with the Red Sox looking down and their fans are getting their panties in a twist when we're finally fighting back and able to poke a little fun? Please. Your boys can cry about the mock hijacking of "Sweet Caroline" over a pile of money and World Series rings.

Thanks for the props, but c'mon.

[Brian J]

And there are Floridians up here in Maine. Everyone seems so sad today, but no one wants to talk about it.

The local radio show was hilarious. All positive Pink Hat calls and e-mails were received with a cow bell and "it's ovaah!" To their credit, they gave The Rays props for the win, which is more than ESPN can do. John Kruk seems so sad.

[displaced Sox fan]

"I try not to hate on Boston fans because they have young sons and daughters too." Nicely said Harold. I've got one at home who has seen better days, but wouldn't abandon his Sox for nothing.

Well guys...I knew the Rays would be a tough team to beat, but I didn't think they'd give us a whooping as they have. The games are starting to look like the nice boys from Tampa picked up some of the residents at the Boston Rest Home to play some ball. UGH - not all the Sox players, but many. I think they are spent...and some need to think about retirement. They are beat up. I think their heads are in it, their hearts are in it...but physically they can't compete with the young team from Tampa in this long season...who clearly wants to win. It is looking like Tampa will be heading for the World Series and I feel bad for their opponents...they'd better be ready!

Go Sox! Give it some fight guys!

[harold]

Jeff Sports Vortex
Congrats on all those great hits and Former stars
In case you forgot you said a little more than "COngrats"
Allow me to remind you
"I love all of you phony bolognies that you Tampa Rays fans are...you had the best team in baseball all season and couldn't fill that sorry excuse of a park until the playoffs. Now and only now are you thumping your chests, while very few of you were on board at the All Star break..hell at that 7 game losing streak you guys were bailing left and right."
Trying to make all that go away with "Congrats....
Pure Punk

[SJ]

9=8,
I am SURE I heard a few choruses of "Let's Go Rays!" from the stands in Fenway. Guess the natives who stayed were weeping under thier seats.

[Jeff Sports Vortex]

hey Harold...FYI...that Expos appreciation day got us....oh....picked up by Deadspin, Awful Announcing, many official Yahoo blogs, and a Montreal sports station. We have got close to 10,000 hits because of the Expos. We had Bill Stoneman aka Former GM or the Angles 2 days before the Sox Angels series, got a Hall of Fame member Gary Carter...got a Maine State Sports Hall of Fame member in Jim Beattie...and Bill the Spaceman Lee is never a bad get...all from a couple of guys doing a podcast/blog...I'd say that was pretty good. BTW why is it punk to tell you congrats on a site I have visited since July?!? Just curious...but weak knees, bring it on tonight...we'll be ready..9 - 11...I will be taking some limps any way because my co-host called Tampa's 2 wins in Boston and I told him he was NUTS...keep hating...we love it up here...btw..guess you have no idea how many "Mainers" reside in your neck of the woods..hmmmmm

[harold]

Jeff sports Vortex
What's Punk is posting on a tampa blog with provocative stuff to drum up business for a blog and radio show from ...(drum roll ...wait for it) MAINE?????
It should work though. There will be some people that call. But only for a day or two Then it will be back to irrelevance for you and your show Montreal Expos appreciation day?
Good Stuff there

[9equals8.com]

Fenway was SILENT last night (someone once said something about crickets, well the crickets were out in force last night). I've never been that close to 36,000+ people and heard so little noise. The fans were literally shell-shocked. IT WAS AMAZING!!! Let's clinch on Thursday - go Rays!!!!

[Horn Rimmed Glasses]

Let's not get too cocky. We still have to get one more win. It can happen. But just lets not get ahead of ourselves and start making WS plans.

One more win!!

One more win!!

One more win!!

[Jeff Sports Vortex]

By the way...attempting to steal Sweet Caroline is the biggest punk move by far....

[Jeff Sports Vortex]

I love all of you phony bolognies that you Tampa Rays fans are...you had the best team in baseball all season and couldn't fill that sorry excuse of a park until the playoffs. Now and only now are you thumping your chests, while very few of you were on board at the All Star break..hell at that 7 game losing streak you guys were bailing left and right...but thats OK forget all that now, because you are on the verge of your 1st World Series bid...CONGRATS..no crying here, your team IS better, no doubt. The Rays pitched better, ran better and hit better...it all has worked...too bad Phillies Fever is going to beat you collective buts into the ground. Is all good..enjoy your AL Championship..you deserved it.

BTW we'll be on tonight if you want to call and gloat. www.centralmainesportsblog.com...look for the talkshoe widget...9 - 11...go ahead...rub it in...(603) 397 - 3559..

Jeff Sports Vortex Maine

[Timmy T]

Big Porky sux....rays rule!

[Rays Baseball News]

The Rays collective feet is on the neck of the Red Sox nation...........snap it

[harold]

A final note to Nova and other Boston fans
While the Rays team isnt used to playoff baseball many of us fans in Florida are used to playoff baseball as most florida residents come from other States. Many of us adopted Either the Marlins or Devil Rays when we moved to the Sub tropics. I adopted the then Devil Rays when I moved here Three years ago. My young son has been with the Rays baseball camps for the past three years and we spent our past three summers hoping for fall ball knowing that a simple win in any three game series was a step up for our poor talented but underachieving young team. This year has been a Godsend to the team and to the fans of this small market team. And no one has been happier than my son. I still remember the sad days of summer I spent rooting for the Hapless Cleveland Indians as a child. I remember the joy and agony of the Orioles teams of the 80's as a young adult when I moved to the DC area. I revel in this because of the time I get with my son, and the Joy he feels after working with some of the different personnel from the Rays in the winter spring and summer camps and finally seeing them win. Many of the players that he worked with are not part of this team. Julio and Rudy Lugo. Shawn Kemp. Brendon Harris. But he learned from them and he learned that you can't always win but you can sure as heck try. So while I might qualify as a Waggoneer since its only been three years its a lifetime for my son. And when he goes to sleep with playoff memories and thoughts of world series possibilities in his head, its all good. ANd I try not to hate on Boston fans because they have young sons and daughters too.

[harold]

Sj
Now That izz summ Funnah Azz Astuff araahgt ather

[Dom]

Maddon's brilliant move. Bringing in Edwin Jackson in the 8th to silence the Sox earns him manager of the year.

[SJ]

The kittehs check in!

http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=2257079

ROFL Look at the title of the book Stephen King is reading in that pic!

Agreed, TBS fan. The game was OVER and they were still telling us that BAHstAHN could still come back oh yes they could you know they could and how many times are they going to ask, "WHO ARE THESE GUYS???"
They're the AL East Division Champs, you gasbags!
GET USED TO IT!

Big Pop-up, you mean!

Wow, Fenway was EMPTY. Guess they don't like sitting there watching their team lose. Now MLB should threaten them with all sorts of dire consequences if they don't STAY IN THEIR SEATS!!!!!

[Go Rays!!]

LET'S GO RAYS!!!! LET'S GO RAYS!!! You know, I feel like celebrating in Vegas with Jerry, Ellen, Dane, Cheech and Chong.

[Novangelus]

Agree - TBS should get the Pete Rose treatment - banned for life.

I know you guys aren't familiar with playoff baseball but this is the worst broadcasting I've ever seen.

[TBS fan]

NOT...

TBS announcers are the absolute WORST in broadcasting...idiots...completely ignorant of history before their eyes and they don't know what to do with it!

Tim McCarver could make them look good.

They are totally blowing their chance to be included and they are clueless.

Where's Todd Kalas???