Published: Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008

Updated: Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008

Upton, Pena, Longoria go long against Red Sox

Rays build early 5-0 lead on three homers off Dice-K

BOSTON – MVP anyone?

B.J. Upton put the Rays on top 2-0 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series with a first inning with a two-run home run off Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The blast, which landed just on top of the Green Monster, was Upton’s third home run of the American League Championship Series and sixth of the postseason.

Upton, who is playing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder that will require offseason surgery, had only nine home runs during the regular season.

In case you are wondering, the record for home runs in a single postseason is the eight Barry Bonds hit in 2002.

Carlos Pena then went deep in the top of the third, a two-run shot that pushed the lead to 4-0.

Evan Longoria then followed with a solo shot, pushing the lead to 5-0. All the home runs were hit off Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who gave up only 12 home runs during the regular season and completely shut down the Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS, a 2-0 Red Sox victory.

With a victory tonight, the Rays will move on to the World Series against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies.