Champagne Still On Ice!

Fenway Park had all the makings of a party on Thursday night. When the Red Sox trailed the Tampa Rays 7-0 in the seventh inning it looked like the champagne was going to be flowing in the visitors clubhouse, then the unthinkable happened.  Sparked by a three run homer by David Ortiz off of Grant Balfour in the eighth inning the Red Sox rallied for the second biggest comeback in post season history in a 8-7 win and it was the Sox who were having the party as they sent this best of seven ALCS back to St.Pete for Game 6.  

  Things were going so smoothly for the Rays thru the first six innings. B.J Upton hit a two run homer to put them up 2-0 in the top of the first.  Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria went back to back again to make it 5-0 Rays in the 3rd.  Scott Kazmir was handed the ball and responded nicely by pitching six innings of 2 hit ball.  The Rays added two more in the seventh to make it 7-0 on a two run double by the red hot Upton.  Then what doomed the Rays a year ago and was the biggest improvement this year reared it's ugly head as the bullpen imploded.  

  The Red Sox got on the board in the seventh with a RBI single by Dustin Pedroia to make it 7-1.  Then the nation came to life for the first time in three days when David "Big Papi" Ortiz belted a three run homer to make it 7-4. Then the bottom of inning eight rolled around.  J.D.Drew hit a two run homer off of Rays reliever Dan Wheeler to make it 7-6.  Then after a lengthy at bat Coco Crisp battled and singled off of Wheeler to tie it but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.  Crisp was in the lineup in the lead off spot for the first time in the series.  Then came maybe the biggest sequence of the game.  Jason Bartlett reached for the Rays to start the ninth but Akinora Iwamura flied out and could not advance the runner. After B.J Uptom walked to put runners on first and second off Red Sox reliever Justin Masterson (1-0) Carlos Pena grounded into a inning ending double play.  Then the Sox won it in the bottom of the ninth.  Kevin Youkilis singled and went to second on Evan Longoria's third error of the series.  After Jason Bay was intentionally walked, J.D Drew delivered the game winner and sent Fenway Park into a frenzy.  Game 6 will be Saturday Night at Tropicana Field. James Shield will look to close it out for the Rays as he will be opposed by Josh Beckett. First pitch is set for 8:07 PM.