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Rays hope to push Red Sox to brink of elimination in Game 4 at Fenway

Tue 14th, October 2008

(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays hope to push the Boston Red to the brink of elimination this evening, when the teams play Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park.

Tampa went up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series on Monday, as B.J. Upton and Rocco Baldelli each hit three-run homers to help the Rays to an emphatic 9-1 win. Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena also went deep for Tampa, which has slammed seven homers over the last two contests.

Longoria and Upton have now combined to hit nine homers this postseason, the most by a pair of teammates under the age of 25. Longoria's four homers are also tied for the most from a rookie. Miguel Cabrera also belted four in 2003 for the Florida Marlins.

Matt Garza (1-1) earned the win by going six-plus innings and scattering six hits and allowing one run, while recording five strikeouts and three walks.

Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in the lone run for the Red Sox, who have dropped the last two games in the set, including a marathon 9-8, 11-inning defeat on Saturday. Dustin Pedroia and Mark Kotsay each collected two hits in the loss.

Jon Lester (1-1) was shelled for eight hits and five runs -- four earned -- over 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander fanned seven and walked two, but surrendered a pair of home runs.

Boston will try to avoid falling into a further hole behind the right arm of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has dominated the Rays over the course of his 16-year career. Wakefield is 19-5 lifetime against them with a 3.32 ERA in 41 games, 31 of which have been starts.

Wakefield was 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in three starts against Tampa this season,, though. He was battered by the Rays the last time he faced them, surrendering six runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The 42-year-old hurler was 10-11 with a 4.13 ERA this season. This will be his first appearance this postseason, but he is 5-6 with a 6.36 ERA in 17 playoff appearances (10 starts).

Tampa will counter with 25-year-old righty Andy Sonnanstine, who picked up the win in the Rays' ALDS clincher against the Chicago White Sox. Sonnanstine gave up three hits, two of which were solo home runs, in 5 2/3 innings of that one. He was 13-9 with a 4.38 ERA during the regular season

Sonnanstine has faced the Red Sox six times and is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA against them.

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 regular season. Tampa managed to win 10 of those contests, but just two of those wins came at Fenway.

After an off day on Wednesday, Game 5 of this series will be played on Thursday.