The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) last night in Tropicana Field. The final score was 3-1 as pitcher Matt Garza led the way with his terrific pitching performance.
Garza pitched seven superb innings and left after throwing 118 pitches. He only gave up two hits in the game and one run. The one run came in the first inning thanks to a home run by Dustin Pedroia. Garza struck out nine batters.
Tampa’s bullpen worked the last two innings as four relievers came in to help get the final six outs of the game. Rookie David Price got the save. Price, the number one draft pick in the 2007 MLB draft, was not even on the Rays’ roster until getting recalled from the minors late this season.
Price struck out J.D. Drew with the bases loaded in the top of the 8th to help the Rays preserve a 3-1 lead. That strikeout was the biggest out of the game since a hit by Drew would have probably tied the game.
The Rays got on the board in the fourth inning thanks to a RBI by Evan Longoria that drove Carlos Pena home. The Rays then took the lead for good in the next inning when Rocco Baldelli singled Willy Aybar in. Aybar homered in the seventh inning to give the Rays an insurance run.
All the runs by the Rays were given up by Red Sox starting pitcher, Jon Lester. Lester pitched a lot better than he did in Game 3 but once again, he took the loss.
With the win, the Rays will go on to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series which starts this Wednesday night.