Rays Outlast Sox, Even ALCS

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)




What an unbelievable game. This one was every bit as good as a Red Sox-Yankees game, except for the ending of course.

As tough a loss as this was, the Sox did what they needed to do in splitting the two games in Tampa and now they have their Ace Jon Lester ready to go in Game 3.

There was so much to talk about in this one.

The best things were Dustin Pedroia breaking out of his slump in a big way, Kevin Youkilis continuing his torrid postseason, Jason Bay doing everything that Manny would be doing and more, and Coco Crisp having a very nice game.

Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon were great in relief again, but this one went too many innings.

BOX SCORE: Rays 9, Red Sox 8 (11 innings)

There were some very troubling signs Saturday night too.

Something must be wrong with Josh Beckett. He's a shell of himself and maybe shouldn't be pitching at all. Jacoby Ellsbury is all of a sudden in a horrific slump again, David Ortiz is trying to pull every pitch and has seemingly lost his power, and Jason Varitek is lost at the plate once again.

With all that being said, the biggest blunder of the night has to be bringing in and sticking with Mike Timlin. Timlin was a very good pitcher at one time - like in 1992 - but he's throwing batting practice to these guys now.

I was shocked when he was put on the roster and totally deflated when I saw him in the game in the bottom of the 11th. Even though the ump was brutal all night and missed two huge strike calls that would have helped Timlin, there's no way he should have been in that game.

And then when the Rays had guys at 2nd and 3rd with one out why wouldn't Terry Francona give Paul Byrd a chance? You knew Timlin couldn't get out of it. Not that Byrd is a stud, but at least try someone else.

Just another example of Francona being too loyal to a guy that just doesn't have it anymore.

Monday's game is gigantic now. Hopefully Lester will be as good as he has been and the Sox will regain control of the series. I expect Ellsbury to be benched with Coco leading off and playing center.

One last thing to mention ... is Sean Casey still on this team? Why doesn't he play at all? I would have pinch hit him instead of Drew for Varitek to lead off the 9th and then had Drew pinch hit for Ellsbury with Coco on 2nd and two outs.