TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Matsuzaka, Defense Dominate In Dome

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2008

Star Of The Game: Daisuke Matsuzaka

Some people were skeptical when Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced Matsuzaka as his Game 1 starter. Any questions now? Dice-K labored through a 27-pitch first inning, walking the bases loaded, but he was never seriously threatened. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning - retiring 16 of 17 batters - as reporters scrambled to locate Don Larsen's home number. Dice-K walked four, but had nine strikeouts and he was removed after two singles in the eighth.

Key Decision

Francona masterfully manipulated his bullpen in the late innings. He hung in with Dice-K until the bitter end. Left-hander Hideki Okajima was summoned to retire Carlos Pena on a liner to right. Right-hander Justin Masterson got Evan Longoria on an inning-ending double play. And that left the ninth inning for closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Play Of The Game

Carl Crawford's speed allowed him to reach a one-out sinking line drive by Kevin Youkilis in the eighth. But at the last second, with Crawford diving, the ball flicked off the web of his glove. Youkilis had an RBI double. The Red Sox led 2-0.

Defensive Gem

The Red Sox had taken a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Mark Kotsay was at third with two outs. Jacoby Ellsbury hit a blooper to short center, the kind that usually falls through. Not with the speedy Rays' defense. B.J. Upton charged hard, but it was shortstop Jason Bartlett who made an over-the-shoulder, inning-ending catch. And the fielders even avoided a collision.

Ominous Sign

Acclaimed horror author Stephen King attended Game 1. Some history: In 2002, King was spotted at a Tropicana Field afternoon game. The defeat began Tampa Bay's franchise-record 15-game losing streak. Hey, don't blame me, said King, a New Englander who lives part time in Sarasota. He actually admitted to an affinity for the Rays. "I was going to wear a Rays hat and a Red Sox jersey, but I didn't want people in New England to see that," said King, who got his Game 1 tickets because he is on Tampa Bay's partial season-ticket plan. So what were his loyalties on Friday night? "The Red Sox are my wife," King said, "and the Rays are my mistress."

Critical Moment

The Rays finally got to Dice-K in the seventh. Crawford singled to right, ending the no-hit bid. Then Cliff Floyd followed with a long single that dropped into left center, sending Crawford to third. From there, though, Dice-K bowed up, getting Dioner Navarro on a medium fly ball, striking out Gabe Gross and coaxing Bartlett into a grounder.

Crunching The Numbers

Since his historic two-homer game in the AL Division Series against the White Sox, Longoria has gone 1-for-16 (and 0-for-his-last-13) in the postseason. Friday's damage included a pair of swinging strikeouts and a double-play ball.

Our Take

Can you say "must-win situation?" The Rays' homefield advantage has vanished (for now). James Shields pitched a wonderful game, and it was wasted. Now it's up to left-hander Scott Kazmir, who was rocked for four home runs in his last outing against the Red Sox (a 13-5 loss at Tropicana Field on Sept. 15). For openers, this one didn't exactly play to form for Tampa Bay. The team that has overcome adversity all season must do it again.

Joey Johnston

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT