[Baseball] Rays Win Game 2 of ALCS Over Red Sox

The Tampa Bay Rays are making waves in the American League Championship Series.

The host Rays took Game 2, 9-8, in 11 innings on B. J. Upton’s game-winning sacrifice fly at Tropicana Field Saturday.

In Game 1, Boston’s right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka carried a no-hitter into the seventh as his team claimed the opener. But the Rays have evened the series.

The Rays are in the playoffs for the first time, and have not backed down against the defending World Series champions.

The Red Sox set a new playoff record with four homers in one game, but the Rays ultimately had the final say in the game.

Upton lofted a pitch from the seventh Boston pitcher of the game Mike Timlin to right field, allowing pinch runner Fernando Perez to score the winning run in the 11th. The game lasted more than five hours.

Both teams had 12 hits on the night, but a single sacrifice fly gave the Rays their first postseason win.

Boston will host Game 3 tomorrow.

hic@donga.com