MLB: Rays Fight Back

What a crazy game in Tampa on Saturday night!

In a back and forth game that tied the postseason record for most homeruns (7) the Tampa Bay Rays were able to pull out a win in the bottom of the eleventh.

Because in the eleventh inning BJ Upton hit a sac fly that sent the Rays to the 9-8 win. And it also allowed the Rays to even the series as these teams prepare to head to Boston to continue the series.

Now the next game in this series becomes equally important for both of these teams. If the Rays win then they take back control of this series. The momentum seriously shifts in the direction of the Rays and the pressure will fall on the Red Sox.

But if the Red Sox win Game Three, then the Rays really need to win Game Four. And that will shift the balance of the series back into the Red Sox favor. That’s not something the Rays want to do too often if they hope to make it to the World Series. They don’t want to open the door too much or too wide. Because the Red Sox will kick it in eventually. Of that the Rays can be absolutely certain.

So on Sunday the eyes of the baseball world will turn back to the NLCS and to Los Angeles. It will be a must-win game for the LA Dodgers. They are down 2-0 and absolutely can’t afford to drop back to 3-0. The Dodgers need at least 2 out of 3 in LA.

Who knows if the can do it? But with losing the first two games of the series in Philly, the Dodgers have no choice.

And then on Monday the ALCS will resume in Boston. And that is a game that both teams would really love to win (obviously). But we will have to wait and see exactly who can pull it off.