Rays on the ropes
Still hoping that the Tampa Bay Rays prove me wrong and close out the American League Championship Series, but it's not happening at the moment. They look tight and the normally dependable Jason Bartlett just fielded a high bouncer and sailed a routine throw over the head of first baseman Carlos Pena to keep the sixth inning alive for David Ortiz.
What do you think happened next? Big Papi lined a single to center field to give the Red Sox their second run of the inning after Bartlett homered to tie the game in the fifth.
If you don't believe in momentum, go back an inning and a blown hit-and-run play by the Rays. Why did it go awry...because Josh Beckett's curveball was so bad that the hitter couldn't even swing at it, so catcher Dioner Navarro was thrown out easily at second base. The tide has turned and it probably won't turn back, but the Rays still have four innings to avoid a nerve-fraying seventh game.
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