BOSTON - How to explain the Rays' bullpen - rock solid throughout the postseason - blowing a seven-run lead in Game 5 of the ALCS Thursday night at Fenway Park? ...more

October 17, 2008

Needing only a four-pitch first inning Monday, LHP Jon Lester looked like he would mow down the Rays like he did in his three previous starts against them this year. ...more

October 14, 2008

Like so many other kids growing up in New England, Rocco Baldelli grew up dreaming of playing a starring role at Fenway Park in October. ...more

October 14, 2008

B.J. Upton's shallow sacrifice fly down the right-field line in the 11th inning scored Fernando Perez from third, giving the Rays a 9-8 triumph ...more

October 12, 2008

There it was, a brightly wrapped moment for the Can't Miss Kid named Evan Longoria. ...more

October 11, 2008

Daisuke Matsuzaka has a dazzling array off off-speed pitches, including a two-seamer called a shuuto that sinks. ...more

October 11, 2008

Star Of The Game: Rays' Bullpen Last season, it was one of the most motley crews ever assembled in major-league history (6.16 ERA, worst since the 1950s). This season, the Rays' bullpen has been strictly lights out. Scott Kazmir, despite early pitch-count troubles, got into the sixth inning. From there, it was closed out by Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Chad Bradford. In two playoff games, Tampa Bay relievers have retired 18 of 23 batters (61/3 innings, one run allowed on a homer, no walks, nine strikeouts). "They don't have a legit closer, and I see they have lefty, righty, lefty in the bullpen," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "That's why they have the brightest men I've seen in the game right now." ...more

October 4, 2008

Tropicana Field bartender Sara Kowalski definitely does not want to root against the Tampa Bay Rays. ...more

October 4, 2008

CC Sabathia and Ryan Braun put the Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs for the first time since 1982 - with big help from the New York Mets. ...more

September 29, 2008

Mets collapse, the sequel. Doomed by a dreadful bullpen that failed them again Sunday, the New York Mets completed their second consecutive September slide with a 4-2 loss to Florida that knocked them out of playoff contention in the final game at Shea Stadium. ...more

September 29, 2008