Back to Tropicana Field for Game 6

Boston wants 1 more game in sunny Florida to shake the winter blues up north. This series is turning into a real slug fest with home runs launching all over the ballpark. The trip back to Tropicana Field gives Tampa Bay a chance to close out the ALCS at home for their fans and that will be a special moment. The Rays want their first World Series appearance and the Red Sox want another run. If the past games are any indicator, there will be a brawl in Florida.




Scott Kazmir was perfect through 5 innings as the Rays led 5-0. Scores came from a 2 run home run from Upton scored Iwamura in the 1st inning. In the 3rd a home run shot from Pena scored Upton with a solo home run from Longoria.

FUN FACT: Evan Longoria sets a ALCS record with 4 consecutive games with a home run.

FUN FACT: Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka only gave up 12 home runs this season but game up 3 by the 3rd inning in this game.

The 7th inning started the dog fight between these two clubs. BJ Upton doubled to deep left scoring Bartlett and Iwamura. to make the score 7-0 Rays. Bostons got a jolt of confidence as Pedroia singled to right scoring Lowrie and advancing Crisp to third base. This game Boston hope and updated the score 7-1. The game really turned as David Ortiz got a 3 run homer to right, keeping Boston alive 7-4.

"There's a lot of fight in that dugout," Drew said. "And a lot of guys knew as soon as we got some runs on the board, we could get something going."

FUN FACT: Boston has never lost 3 straight postseason games at Fenway Park within 1 series.

FUN FACT: The Rays combined for 645-972 in their first 10 years and only held 1st place for 20 days. This season they go 97-65 and held 1st place for 111 days.

The 8th inning was all Red Sox as they tied the Rays 7-7. JD Drew homered to right scoring Bay scored. Crisp singled to right scoring Kotsay then Crisp was tagged out at second attempting to advance on the play.

In story book fashion, it was the bottom of the 9th when JD Drew hit a single to deep right, just deep enough to allow Kevin Youkilis to score the winning run and prolongs Boston's chance for a World Series repeat.

FUN FACT: No team has repeated as World Series champion since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000. That mark is still in jeopardy.

FUN FACT: The Red Sox overcame a 7 run deficit to win this game which make it the 2nd largest deficit to overcome in history.

After the game Rays manager Joe Maddon said, "There goes Papi and there goes Drew, I mean that can happen at any time, we're just going to have to go back home and get it going again. We played a great game. They just came back and beat us. That happens."