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It's All Square After 2

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2008

Star Of The Game: James Shields
Maybe it wasn't a vintage outing, but Rays starter James Shields provided the spark behind Thursday night's 4-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. Shields, picking up his first postseason victory since the Game 1 ALDS win against the Chicago White Sox on Oct. 2, took a shutout two outs into the sixth inning before being lifted. Shields surrendered seven hits, walking two and striking out four, but he showed great resolve by stranding six runners in scoring position.

Key Decision

Was it a strike or a ball? Home-plate umpire Kerwin Danley hesitated on a full-count slider to Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli, who checked his swing, in the second inning. With Dioner Navarro on first with a one-out single, Danley appeared to raise his right arm, as if to call a strike, then he pointed to Fieldin Culbreth for assistance. No swing, Culbreth said, changing the complexion of the inning. Despite the protestations of Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, Baldelli was on base. Jason Bartlett followed with an infield single, filling the bases. With two outs, B.J. Upton singled in a run, extending Tampa Bay's lead to 3-0.

Play Of The Game

Cliff Floyd inspires teammates with his base-running effort, despite his balky knees. He's still the ultimate station-to-station player. In the fifth, he got to third with one out. How to get him home? Floyd showed great instincts as Jason Bartlett laid down a safety-squeeze bunt along the first-base line. Floyd took some steps toward the plate, then went all out once the bunt was executed. The Rays led 4-0.

Quirky Play

In the fourth inning, the Rays' infield defense unsuccessfully took a dive - three times. With Ryan Howard on first, Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino smacked a grounder past a diving first baseman Carlos Pena, who was playing in to protect against the bunt. Second baseman Akinori Iwamura, also diving, stopped it and threw to James Shields, who dove to snag it while keeping his foot on the bag. Victorino was safe - all that diving for nothing? - but Shields escaped from the inning.

Critical Moment

The Phillies, trailing 4-0, had runners at first and second with one out in the fifth. Up stepped Chase Utley, the homer-hitting star of Game 1. On the 1-1 pitch, Utley hit a sinking liner to right field. Baldelli, on the move, raced over for the catch. Then he rifled a beeline throw to Pena at first base, doubling off Jayson Werth, who couldn't make it back after gambling and wandering toward second before Baldelli's running catch. It forced Howard (2-for-2 at the time) to lead off the next inning.

Crunching Numbers

Considering their offensive production in the clutch, the Phillies are fortunate to be going home with a split. Through two games, the Phillies are 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position. The Phillies set a World Series record by going 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position during Game 1 (four teams had previously gone 0-for-12 with RISP, most recently the Kansas City Royals in the 1980 World Series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau).

Our Take

Ah, the little things. They really mattered for the Rays in Game 2. Manufacturing a pair of first-inning runs on grounders. Bartlett's safety squeeze that scored Floyd. Baldelli giving all-out effort on the bases, beating out a double-play ball by a step, extending that inning. Baldelli's hustle in right field. Shields battling in crunch-time situations. Dan Wheeler and David Price bearing down in relief. The home-run barrage in Boston was interesting and exciting. But practically everyone had a hand in this Game 2 win against Philadelphia. Really, it was a clinic in the primary methods used for Tampa Bay to reach these postseason heights.

Joey Johnston

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