Relive the final two and a half innings from a sports blogger’s point of view from an epic game seven

SCOTT JACOBS

Okay, so they’re not going to Disneyworld. Well, not yet at least, but Tampa Bay is going to the World Series after holding off the pesky World Champion Red Sox in a thrilling game seven. It lived up to the billing, this game lived up the hype, and when it was said and done, the Red Sox had their heads down, and the Rays had their head doused. O what a series. What a night. What an amazing underdog story for the ages.

Bottom of the 7th
Willie Aybar crushes a towering home run off of John Lester, and the Rays extend their lead to 3-1. Aybar has scored two out of Tampa Bay’s three runs tonight. What an unlikely hero he has been.

Top of the 8th inning
Garza is cruising along when a routine ground ball skips off of Jason Bartlett’s wrist, and into the outfield. That’s it for Garza who was brilliant tonight, throwing 118 pitches and striking out nine. Truly the game of a lifetime for Garza, who was acquired in that incredible off-season trade for him and Bartlett. The Twins got Delmon Young. Safe to say that the Rays are happy right now with that trade. Garza allowed just two hits in his seven innings and was simply brilliant.

Man on first, no outs, you can feel the tension at the Trop.

Enter Dan Wheeler. Can he seal the deal? Here we go!

Coco Crisp quicky gets a base hit and now there’s two on with no outs. Do the Red Sox haveanother comeback in them? Because they’re going to need it. And how fitting that they have to overcome a 3-1 deficit, to finish off their unlikely 3-1 series comeback. Wheeler throws it into the dirt to Dustin Pedroia, who hit a home run in the first, Boston’s only run of the game to date, and the Red Sox are building something potentially big here.

1-1 count, and Pedroia pops out. Boy he just missed that one. Middle of the plate, just got under it. That’s all for Wheeler.

J.P. Howell will take the mound for the Rays. He comes in to face the struggling David Ortiz, who has really disappeared in this series with the exception of that game five homer. Ortiz hits the ball on the ground, and the Rays just get Crisp, who was trying to break up a potential double play, instead of trying to get into second. Tough break for Boston, and now there’s two outs.

Rays are now four outs from the World Series.

Crisp really should have gone for the bag there.

The Rays will bring in their fourth pitcher of the night, Chad Bradford. Bradford throws three straight balls to open the count, and after a few strikes, walks Kevin Youkilis. What a game so far. Boston has just three hits on the night, but a fourth one will tie this game up.

Bases loaded and the Rays are bringing in the rookie, David Price. What a gutsy call bringing in the rookie with the season on the line.

Price made his debut at Yankee Stadium on September 14th, surrendering just 3 hits and 2 runs in 5 plus innings against New York, but this is different. He can’t afford to allow anything here.

Price comes in and throws a strike to J.D. Drew. Crowd on their feet, an AL pennant hanging in the balance. Strike two. Price misse, ball one. The crowd is going to pee themselves in excitement if he gets Drew here. Price pitches, and strike three. He struck him out! What a pitch, a little low, but Drew couldn’t check his swing, and Price gets out of the jam.

Tampa Bay is three outs away from the World Series.

Bottom of the ninth
Tampa Bay was retired in order in the top of the ninth, and here we are: 3-1, three outs away from the most improbable AL champs in a very long time. Price will pitch the ninth folks. What an unbelievable story this kid has been. He went 12-1 in the minors, and now he’s on the big stage with the chance to deliver an AL pennant to Tampa Bay.

Do the Red Sox have one last miracle in them? Cause they’ll need it if they want to continue defending their championship.

Bay, Kotsay, and Varitez due up in the ninth.

And how fitting is it that the Price, Tampa Bay’s number one pick in 2007, gets the ball with the chance to send this young, historically awful franchise to the Fall Classic.

The count is full, and Price throws a ball. Bay is on quickly in the ninth. The Red Sox have a man on with no out, and the tying run steps to the plate. Price has to be a little nervous. He’s never had a save in his life, never-mind the chance to win a game seven.

Mark Kotsay steps to the plate, and he bunts? Kind of odd decision there. 2-2 count, and Price strikes him out! Outside corner what a pitch by the rookie. Two outs away from the World Series are the Tampa Bay Rays. A double play could end Boston’s title defense here.

Here comes Varitek, who has really struggled this post-season. Starts off 1-1. Fouls it off, 1-2 count. Price needs one more. Throws it high, 2-2. Red Sox really need baserunners here. Price delivers and he struck him out! Are you kidding me? This kid has ice in his veins. Price has struck out two since walking Bay.

Rays are one out away from the Fall Classic.

Aybar is going crazy in the dugout.

Up comes Jed Lowrie. Strike one. The Trop is going nuts right now. Cowbells banging like crazy, this atmosphere is awesome. Ground ball to second, Iwamura’s got it. Rays win, Rays win!

They’re going to the World Series.

9=AL Champs! The World Series is set. The slipper fits. The Rays are going to the World Series! What a performance from Price. Simply unbelievable inning and a third from this kid. Clutch as clutch can be.

Scott Kazmir was the winning pitcher in the All Star Game, that wild and whacky 15 inning thriller, and because of it, Tampa Bay will host the World Series. Not surprisingly Matt Garza is the ALCS MVP. 2-0 with a 1.38 E.R.A, what a series he had.

And inexplicably Garza curses “s*** I’ll take it.”

Eh, it’s TBS. We’ll let it slide.

But holy s*** the Rays are going to the Fall Classic.

There’s a new kingpin in the American League. And it’s no longer the Boston Red Sox.

What a game. What a series. What a night for baseball.

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