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Upton Takes Advantage Of Chances

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

Updated: 10/24/2008 01:46 am

ST. PETERSBURG - The Tampa Bay Rays are the bounce-back kids of the postseason. And no player on the team exemplifies that more than outfielder B.J. Upton.

It just wouldn't be a World Series game for the Rays if Upton didn't hit into a double play. Luckily for Tampa Bay, Upton did more than that on Thursday night.

A day after going 0-for-4, including two at-bats where he hit into a double play, Upton redeemed himself with an RBI single in the Rays 4-2 victory against Philadelphia. He finished the game 2-for-4.

"He's the backbone of this team right now," Rays designated hitter Cliff Floyd said. "He's taking advantage of the confidence and using it to his strength. He's told us he's going to put everything else aside, shoulder injury, quad injury and go out there and give himself an opportunity to help this team."

Upton never has pretended to be perfect and has owned up to all of his flaws this year. He's been a bit of a split personality this season and especially this postseason.

Entering the World Series, Upton was tied for the second-most postseason home runs with seven. Four of those seven long balls came in the ALCS, tying a League Championship Series record.

And his 16 postseason RBIs are three shy of a major-league record, set by David Ortiz in 2004.

Upton got his 16th RBI of the postseason with a single to right field in the second inning. He got things started in the first inning with a single through the hole at second base, eventually landing at second on an error. He later scored on a RBI groundout by Evan Longoria.

"We all feed off each other," said Upton of the abundance of scoring opportunities.

Upton seems to be feeding off his team's support.

"I tip my hat to him because without him taking a 360-degree turn, I don't know where this team would be right now," Floyd said. "I commend him. He's young and I told him early in the season I expect him to be in the Hall of Fame and I'm not going to back down from that."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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