"Big Game" James Shields wasn't big enough Saturday night against a Boston Red Sox team that looked nothing like it did earlier in the American League Championship Series. ...more

October 19, 2008

Talk about having something to prove. Scott Kazmir couldn't have asked for a higher level of motivation as he took the mound Thursday. ...more

October 17, 2008

When the Rays need a starter to go deep into a game protecting a one- or two-run lead, they probably would prefer to have James Shields on the mound. ...more

October 15, 2008

George Selvie figured it was better to be safe than sorry. ...more

October 15, 2008

Matt Garza made his point Monday. All he heard about heading into Game 3 was his opposite number, Jon Lester, and how everyone expected the lefty to dominate the Rays. Hardly a word was said about Garza, the only Rays pitcher to lose a game in the first round, and it admittedly got under his skin. ...more

October 14, 2008

Star Of The Game: Matt Garza The Rays got 13 hits - and four home runs - in Monday's 9-1 victory against Boston in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. "You can talk about the hitting all you want," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Matt Garza is the reason we won the game. He did not permit them to come back." Garza, who pitched to two batters in the seventh inning before his exit, allowed six hits, walked three and struck out five on 116 pitches. In the first two innings, Garza stranded three runners in scoring position. Garza got the leadoff batter out six times. The Red Sox's 3-4-5 batters (David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew) were 0-for-9 against him. ...more

October 14, 2008

The Rays managed only four hits in Game 1 against Daisuke Matsuzaka and his late-inning help. How much tougher can Boston's pitching get? ...more

October 13, 2008

Brett Myers stood on first base, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders. He couldn't explain his hitting success, and no one ever expected it. ...more

October 11, 2008