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It ends tonight: Can the Rays beat the Red Sox in Game Seven?
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Maddon and the Rays face Game 7
- AP
If the Rays want to win Game Seven and go to the World Series, they need to go back to what got them here. There are three big ways in which they can do that.
1. Run, Run, Run
Game Six saw the Rays score two runs on two solo home runs. The AL East Champs were bashing the ball out of the park at a record pace in games two through five, but the Rays need to find a way to score runs other than the long ball.
This is a team that was fifth in the American League in home runs and first in all of baseball in stolen bases. They are 16 of 17 in stolen base attempts in the playoffs. The only failed attempt was Dioner Navarro getting thrown out on a hit-and-run. The Rays need to get some leadoff men on base and manufacture some runs.
2. Shake the nerves
James Shields was uncharacteristically wild in Game Six. Jason Bartlett made a critical throwing error on a play he almost always makes. Grant Balfour couldn’t throw a strike and looks nothing like the confident flame-thrower that dominated the White Sox.
The Rays need to remember that they are talented enough to knock off the Red Sox. If they relax and let their talent take over that will go a long way towards putting them into the World Series.
3. Bully the bullpen
Hideki Okajima and Justin Masterson have shut down the Rays in this series. Coming into the series, the Rays were planning on scoring some runs against Boston’s middle relief corps. It hasn’t worked out that way thus far.
The Rays lit up Manny Delcarmen for five runs in the 13-4 Game Three win. Francona, however, has turned away from Delcarmen and is now using Masterson as the righty in key relief situations.
If Tampa Bay continues to let Masterson and Okajima shut them down, Game Seven will be tough to win.
If the Red Sox win tonight it will be the fourth time since 1986 that they have come back from down 3-1 in the ALCS.
The Rays will try to succeed in the face of the most extreme adversity they have faced all season.
Joe Maddon’s Rays have responded all season long. Do they have one more left?
For more info: Complete MLB Playoffs coverage from Examiners.
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