October 26, 2008
To the Seventh
The Phillies get a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth, but an IBB to Ryan Howard and a double play end the inning. The Rays are down 6-2 going to the seventh, but they blew a bigger lead than that in game 5 of the ALCS, starting in the seventh inning.
Update: Zobrist leads off the seventh with a walk. That's just the second walk allowed by Joe Blanton, but it's enough to bring him out of the game. A fine performance by Blanton, giving up runs on solo shots. By keeping the Rays off the bases with just two other hits, thanks in part to seven Ks in six innings, the home runs couldn't do much damage.
Chad Durbin comes on in relief.
Update: Bartlett flies out to center for the first out. Willy Aybar pinch hits for Jackson.
Update: Aybar singles to right to put runners on first and second with one out. That's it for Durbin with Iwamura at the plate. He'll face Scott Eyre.
Update: Iwamura lines a 3-1 pitch into left, but Brunlett is there to catch it. Ryan Madson is coming in to face B.J. Upton with two out.
Update: Madson falls behind 3-1, but Upton fouls off the 3-1 pitch (I thought it was ball four), then swings and misses to end the inning. The Rays can't get the big hit and they still trail 6-2 at the stretch.