Garza finished the night was 7.2 innings pitched while giving up only one hit and one walk. He struck out ten batters on his way to lowering his season’s ERA to 3.82 and picking up his second win. Grant Balfour finished off the game and the Rays easily beat the Red Sox by a final count of 13-0.

At the plate, the hitting hero for the Rays was Evan Longaria. The second-year star went 3-for-5 with three runs and four RBIs. His big hit was a homer in the sixth inning. Backup catcher Michel Hernandez was 4-for-5 with a run and three RBIs.

On the mound for the Red Sox, Josh Beckett struggled mightily. He gave up seven earned runs in 4.2 innings. He allowed ten hits and three walks. After looking impressive in his first start of the season, Beckett has looked worse and worse as the season has progressed. He now sports a 7.22 ERA after five starts.

Matt Garza, Tampa Bay Rays (Image: Newscom)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Price, who is regarded by some as the best pitching prospect in baseball, got the final four outs to record his first career save. After Price was called up from the minors he didn’t record a win or a save in the regular season, but has one of each in the 2008 playoffs.

The hitting star for the Rays was Willy Aybar, who went 2-3 with a solo home run and also scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. On the mound, starting pitcher Matt Garza was amazing. He went seven innings and gave up only two hits and one earned run while striking out nine batters. The only run he gave up to the defending World Series champion Red Sox was a Dustin Pedroia home run in the first inning.

Now the Rays advance to take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Since the American League won the All-Star Game, the Rays will have home field advantage. The 2008 World Series begins on Wednesday in Tampa Bay.

Here is a video with 2008 ALCS MVP Matt Garza:

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The Rays got off to a good start with postseason hero BJ Upton hitting a home run to put the team up 1-0. But with the game tied 2-2, Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek hit a solo shot in the top of the sixth inning to put Boston up for good as they went on to win 4-2.

Now in Game 7, all the pressure is on the upstart Rays. The good news is that they will have the game at home. The bad news is that the Red Sox have a huge experience advantage and will be much better equipped to deal with the added pressure.

Game 7 of the American League Championship Series will take place on Sunday night and will feature Jon Lester of the Red Sox going against Matt Garza of the Rays. The winner of the game will advance to play the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 World Series.

Here is a video showing the highlights of Game 6 and previewing of Game 7:

Post from: Knuckle Curve

In the video, it is difficult to see what the Red Sox fans did to get tasered. We’ll assume that it was a justified tasering and not just a Tampa Bay Rays officer showing which team he roots for.

On the field, the Rays tasered the Red Sox by a final score of 9-1 to go up two games to one in the best of seven series. The Rays were led by their four players who hit home runs: BJ Upton, Evan Longoria, Rocco Baldelli and Carlos Pena. Matt Garza was very solid on the mound, giving up only one earned run in six innings while striking out five batters.

Here is the Red Sox fans tasered video:

Post from: Knuckle Curve