Now It’s a Best of 5!

By Peter Schiller
Updated: October 24, 2008

The Tampa Bay Rays Win Game 2

The Series is Now Tied at 1 Game a Piece

The Rays James Shields didn’t pitch great, but all he had to do was pitch better than the Phillies Bret Myers (I know, I know. I spelled Myers wrong yesterday) and he did. He got into trouble at times, but pitched out of them effectively. Myers did not!

Philly also played sloppy baseball. Werth booted a ball in RF that resulted in a run and then was later doubled up at 1B on a throw from Rocco Baldelli in RF. Rocco showed that despite his condition, he still has one heck of an arm in the outfield! If I left out anything, please add it in the comments…

For the Phillies, the bad news is that SS and leadoff man Jimmy Rollins is in an 0-10 slump in this series, but on the bright side, 1B Ryan Howard seems to have broken out of his with a 2-4 night. In his second at bat he hit a curveball hard for a double and that seems to have been what the doctor ordered. For the Phillies to have a chance in this series, they have to do better with runners in scoring position (RISP). They let Shields get out of way too many jams last night.

The Rays may not be hitting long balls as they did in the ALCS, but they are playing great small ball with Bartlett executing on a safety squeeze (hat tip to FOX announcer Tim McCarver) scoring Floyd early in the game.

One note that needs to be mentioned is the factor that the home plate umpire was in last night’s game. That supposedly held swing by Baldelli that should have been strike three and missed hit by pitch that clearly struck the jersey of Rollins late in the game were just as bad as the blown balk call of the night before.

Let’s all hope that game 3 isn’t rained out as some weather reports have suggested.

Can the Phillies starter and old man of the mound, Jamie Moyer pull out a surprising win against the Rays ALCS MVP, Matt Garza? Which batters will get hot in homer friendly Citizen’s bank Park? Well, what do you think? You’ve got two days to share your thoughts with us! Let your voice be heard! This site is way too quiet if you ask me! 🙂

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My name is Peter Schiller. I am the creator/owner of Baseball Reflections.com. I’m also a contributing writer. To read more of my work here at Baseball Reflections just click HERE!

I am also affiliated with a great cause, a children's book with a great message called, "A Glove of Their Own". For every purchase of this great book using the promotional code WBO, a $3.00 donation will be made when purchased through the Franklin Mason Press website for World Baseball Outreach at checkout. You can purchase a copy by following the link at their website www.agloveoftheirown.com

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