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Rays aim to rebound in Game 2 of ALCS versus Red Sox

Sat 11th, October 2008

(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox try to go two games up on the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series this evening when the AL East rivals play Game 2 of the best-of-seven set at Tropicana Field.

Boston snatched home-field advantage in the series with a Game 1 victory on Friday, as Daisuke Matsuzaka took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, helping the Red Sox to a 2-0 win.

Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-4 and doubled in a run, and Jed Lowrie added a sacrifice fly for the defending World Series champions, who lost eight of nine games in St. Petersburg during the regular season.

Matsuzaka (1-0), who was unbeaten in nine road decisions during the regular season, allowed four hits, walked four and had nine strikeouts over his seven- plus innings. Jonathan Papelbon retired the side in order in the ninth to notch the save for the Red Sox.

They've won a team-record six straight postseason road games and have won 11 of their last 12 playoff games overall.

James Shields (1-1) surrendered six hits and the two runs over 7 1/3 frames. He also walked two and fanned six in the first-ever ALCS game for the Rays.

Now, Boston turns to perhaps the best postseason pitcher of this generation in right-hander Josh Beckett. However, Beckett was not his usual playoff- dominating self in his Game 3 ALDS start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

After having his start pushed back because of an oblique injury, Beckett put forth the worst postseason start of his career, as he allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings versus the Angels.

Nobody seems overly concerned, though, saying that rust had as much to with the poor outing as anything.

Beckett, who is 5-3 lifetime against the Rays, had won all four of his postseason starts a year ago, but saw his playoff ERA rise from 1.73 to 2.09.

The Rays will counter with young lefty Scott Kazmir. He has pitched fairly well against the Red Sox over the course of his young career, but struggled against them this season, going 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts. For his career Kazmir is 6-7 against Boston with a 3.62 ERA in 21 starts.

The 24-year-old hurler, who was 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA in the regular season, gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of his Game 2 win over the White Sox.

While the defending world champion Red Sox are ALCS regulars, appearing in this round for the fourth time in the last six years, the Rays, of course, are new to the party, playing in their first-ever postseason.

These teams are obviously no stranger to one another, having played 18 times throughout the season. Tampa managed to win 10 of those contests with eight of the victories coming on their home field.

This series will shift to Fenway Park for Game 3 on Monday.