Five key moments in Tampa Bay's 6-2 victory Friday:
J.P. Houdini - Rays lefty J.P. Howell entered the game with two on, none out and the Rays up 3-2 in the seventh. Neither runner moved, however, as Howell set down Jim Thome, Alexei Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski in order. He returned to strike out the side in the eighth.
Saucy Aussie Wins Again - One night after their heated exchange, Grant Balfour and Orlando Cabrera met in another key confrontation, this one coming with a runner on second and the Rays up 3-2 in the sixth. Both players kept their mouths shut, but Balfour bettered Cabrera once more, retiring him on a grounder to second.
Bottom's Up - No. 9 hitter Jason Bartlett continues to spark the Rays, as his fifth-inning single paved the way for Akinori Iwamura's go-ahead home run. Bartlett triggered a three-run rally in Game 1, when he led off the third inning with a hit.
It Could Have Been Worse - Chicago loaded the bases twice in the first inning but scored just two runs against Scott Kazmir. Putting his team in a quick two-run hole wasn't the plan, but by minimizing the damage, Kazmir kept the Rays in the game and wound up winning his first postseason start.
Thanks, Alexei - After gloving Rocco Baldelli's second-inning line drive, White Sox second baseman Ramirez made an errant throw trying to double Willy Aybar off first, allowing Aybar to take third. Aybar wound up scoring on Dioner Navarro's single, cutting the Rays' deficit to 2-1.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The series resumes at 4:07 p.m. Sunday in Chicago, where Matt Garza squares off with the man who saved Chicago's season, John Danks.
The lefty threw eight shutout innings against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in the one-game playoff for the AL Central title.
Danks is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA against the Rays this season. Both victories came at Tropicana Field. He is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA for his career against the Rays.
Danks was 12-9 in 33 starts this season. His 3.32 ERA was the fifth-best in the American League.
The Rays will counter with Garza (11-9, 3.70), who will make his first start against the White Sox this season.
- John Lembo and Roger
Mooney, Herald Staff
1. Thanks, Alexei - After gloving Rocco Baldelli's second-inning line drive, White Sox second baseman Alexei Ramirez made an errant throw trying to double Willy Aybar off first, allowing Aybar to take third. Aybar wound up scoring on Dioner Navarro's single, cutting the Rays' deficit to 2-1.
2. It Could Have Been Worse - Chicago loaded the bases twice in the first inning but scored just two runs against Scott Kazmir. Putting his team in a quick two-run hole wasn't the plan, 0but by minimizing the damage, Kazmir kept the Rays in the game and wound up winning his first postseason start.
3. Bottom's Up - No. 9 hitter Jason Bartlett continues to spark the Rays, as his fifth-inning single paved the way for Akinori Iwamura's game-winning home run. Bartlett triggered a three-run rally in Game 1, when he led off the third inning with a hit.
4. Saucy Aussie Wins Again - One night after their heated exchange, Grant Balfour and Orlando Cabrera met in another key confrontation, this one coming with a runner on second and the Rays up 3-2 in the sixth. Both players kept their mouths shut, but Balfour bettered Cabrera once more, retiring him on a grounder to second.
5. J.P. Houdini - Rays lefty J.P. Howell entered the game with two on, none out and the Rays up 3-2 in the seventh. Neither runner moved, however, as Howell got set down Jim Thome, Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski down in order. He returned to strike out the side in the eighth.
"It wasn't as bad as it looked." Dioner Navarro, Rays catcher, on Scott Kazmir's shaky first two innings.
Again, Akinori Iwamura made more noise with his bat.
Known mostly as a slap hitter since coming to the Rays prior to the 2007 season, Iwamura flashed some power during the fifth inning of Game 2 of the American League Division Series - and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Down 2-1 in the fifth inning, Iwamura hit a two-run home run off Chicago starter Mark Buehrle to give the Rays a 3-2 they never relinquished.
- John Lembo,
Herald Staff
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