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Rays hold firm to see off Red Sox in decider

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-20 14:29

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Sunday to win the American League championship 4-3 and reach the World Series for the first time in their 11-year existence.

Tampa Bay Rays Carlos Pena (R) and B.J Upton celebrate with the American League Trophy after their team defeated the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 to win Major League Baseball's ALCS playoff series in St. Petersburg, Florida, October 19, 2008. [Agencies]

The defending World Series champion Red Sox had fought back from 3-1 down and trailing 7-0 in Game Five to force a decider against the Rays who had never won more than 70 games in their previous 10 seasons.

"It shows anything is possible," Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said after accepting the championship trophy.

The Rays will begin the World Series against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Matt Garza held Boston to one run and two hits over the first seven innings and rookie David Price protected the lead by striking out J.D. Drew with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning.

Price struck out two more batters in the ninth inning and got the final out of the game on a ground ball to second as the sellout crowd of 40,073 roared its approval.

Dustin Pedroia gave Boston a 1-0 lead with a first-inning home run. The Rays tied the game in the fourth inning on a double by Evan Longoria off Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester that drove in Carlos Pena.

FINAL RUN

Willy Aybar doubled to start the fifth inning and scored on a single by Rocco Baldelli. Aybar homered in the seventh inning for the final run.

"We got beat by a very good team," Red Sox manager Terry Francona told reporters.

The Red Sox also trailed last year's American League championship series 3-1 against Cleveland but won the last three games and the World Series against Colorado.

The Rays had the worst record in baseball last year at 66-96 but improved to 97-65 this season to win the AL East division from the Red Sox by two games.

Garza, who also won Game Three against Boston, was named the most valuable player of the series.

"He (Garza) had great stuff tonight. He's (strong as) a horse," manager Joe Maddon said.

"We've proved doubters wrong this entire time and we told each other keep believing, keep fighting," Garza said.