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Rays Removing Doubt Once More

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Rocco Baldelli is called out after a collision at home plate with Carlos Ruiz against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 3rd inning of the World Series.

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Ah, the old We're Not Just Happy To Be Here game.

One of these days, we'll learn.

You started to hear them after Game 1 of the World Series.

"Maybe some of our doubters are back," Rays DH Cliff Floyd said.

It's like energy drink to this bunch.

They were being doubted again.

They had us right where they wanted.

And so this Series is tied after the home team's first Series win, a grinding, but decisive 4-1 Rays victory at Tropicana Field.

It was like Game 2 of the ALCS against the Red Sox, or Game 7. It was like this whole dreamy season. When questioned, they've answered. Thursday, they did exactly that.

It wasn't splashy.

It didn't have to be.

The Rays did exactly what they had to do.

They jumped on the Phillies for three runs in the first two innings, not with long balls, but two RBI groundouts by the still hitless Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria and an RBI single by B.J. Upton, who singled twice his first two at-bats, setting the tone.

They controlled this game from the start.

The Phillies shut-down relievers could only watch.

The Rays got what they needed from James Shields, who also set tone. It wasn't Shields' best start of the season, but it was his biggest, and after two ALCS losses, he was bulldog, refusing to let the Phillies score before being lifted in the sixth. Big Game James enough.

The Rays got enough of what they needed from the bullpen after Rays manager Joe Maddon lifted Sheilds _ first from Dan Wheeler, then from David Price, who allowed two runs, but also struck out Ryan Howard looking with two men on to end the seventh inning, the fanned Chase Utley in the ninth before getting Howard on a grounder to end it.

The Rays got a big play from Rocco Baldelli in right, as he doubled up Jayson Werth at first after running down Utley's dying fly ball in the fifth. And they got little plays - Jason Bartlett safety squeezed Cliff Floyd across the plate in the fourth.

They did what they needed when they needed it.

They probably needed the doubters, too.

There are few remaining holdouts when it comes to the Rays. How do you doubt a team that blows that big lead in Game 5 of the ALCS, but still manages to win a pennant? But it still doesn't take a lot for people to think this season is turning back into pumpkins.

Instead, this Series moves to Philadelphia for three games, with the advantage tilted toward the Rays starting pitchers, at least until Hamels starts again. And there's a clear formula: Beat any Phillies pitcher not named Hamels, Madson or Lidge. Keep these games from turning into seven-inning contests. Avoid that killer Phillies bullpen by grabbing the lead and holding it.

This has not been a wall-banging Series. Pena and Longoria are just two examples. The Phillies are 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position. If it comes down to pitching, I give the Rays the edge on Hamels, Maddon and Lidge's off days.

We know what a Game 2 loss would have meant. Only three times has the home team lost the first two games of a Series and come back to win it. Throw that statistic out until next season. The Rays made sure of it. They grabbed this game and won this game.

No doubt about it.

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