2008 American League Championship Series

2008 American League Championship Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season Tampa Bay Rays(4) Joe Maddon 97–65,.599, GA: 2 Boston Red Sox(3) Terry Francona 95–67,.586, GB: 2
Dates	October 10–19
MVP	Matt Garza(Tampa Bay)
Umpires	Tim McClelland(crew chief),Sam Holbrook,Brian O'Nora,Brian Gorman,Alfonso Márquez,Derryl Cousins,Ángel Hernández(Game 7 replacement for Cousins)
Broadcast
Television	TBS MLB International
TV announcers	Chip Caray,Ron Darling,Buck MartinezandCraig Sager(TBS) Dave O'Brien,Rick Sutcliffe(MLB International)
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Jon MillerandJoe Morgan
ALDS	Boston Red SoxoverLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim(3–1) Tampa Bay RaysoverChicago White Sox(3–1)
ALCS

The2008American League Championship Series(ALCS), the second round of the 2008American Leagueplayoffs, was abest-of-sevenseries matching the two winners of theAmerican League Division Series.TheAL East DivisionchampionTampa Bay Rays,who had defeated the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, were paired with the wild-card and defending world championBoston Red Sox,who had defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in the ALDS. Tampa Bay held the home field advantage.

The Rays won the series four games to three, becoming the first team since the1992 Atlanta Bravesto win a seventh game after blowing a 3–1 lead. The series began atTropicana FieldinSt. Petersburg, Florida,on Friday, October 10, 2008, and was broadcast onTBS.Game 7 was played on Sunday, October 19.This was the Rays' first appearance in the ALCS while the Red Sox were making their fourth appearance in the last six seasons and ninth overall. The two teams hit a combined 26 home runs—a record for league championship series.

The Rays would go on to lose theWorld Seriesto thePhiladelphia Philliesin five games.

Background

In spring training before the start of the 2008 season,James Shieldsjoked that the goal for the newly branded Rays (they had just changed their name from the Devil Rays) was to not lose 100 games — having dropped 96 in the2007 season.Veteran and former World Series championCliff Floyd,who had signed with the team in the off-season at age 35, contemplated retirement after the first few days of spring training. “You’re wondering, ‘What the hell are you doing?'”, said Floyd in 2018 at the team’s ten year-anniversary. “Why are you signing with this team? What makes you think this is the right move?”With a payroll of only $43.8 million, the second lowest in the majors, Tampa Bay entered the season facing 125-1 odds to win the AL pennant and 300-1 odds to win the World Series. But the franchise that never had finished above.500 or reached the postseason in their brief 11-year history improbably won the AL East over theNew York Yankees($209 million payroll) andBoston Red Sox($133.4 million).To get to their first ALCS appearance in franchise history, they beat the White Sox in four games in theALDS.

Finishing 2nd in the American League East was the defending champions Boston Red Sox. After being a season-long running distraction in the clubhouse,GMTheo Epsteintraded superstarManny Ramirezto the Dodgers in a blockbuster three-way deal. In the deal, the Red Sox acquired outfielderJason Bayand minor league infielderJosh Wilson,and the Pittsburgh Pirates got infielderAndy LaRocheand pitching prospectBryan Morrisfrom the Dodgers and outfielderBrandon Mossand pitcherCraig Hansenfrom the Red Sox. The acquisition of Jason Bay proved to be a wake-up call for the defending champs, as they compelled a 34-19 record after the trade and qualified for the postseason as a wild card. In the ALDS, they upset the Angels in four games.

Summary

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox

Tampa Bay won the series, 4–3.

Game	Date	Score	Location	Time	Attendance
1	October 10	Boston Red Sox– 2, Tampa Bay Rays – 0	Tropicana Field	3:25	35,001
2	October 11	Boston Red Sox – 8,Tampa Bay Rays– 9(11)	Tropicana Field	5:27	34,904
3	October 13	Tampa Bay Rays– 9, Boston Red Sox – 1	Fenway Park	3:23	38,031
4	October 14	Tampa Bay Rays– 13, Boston Red Sox – 4	Fenway Park	3:07	38,133
5	October 16	Tampa Bay Rays – 7,Boston Red Sox– 8	Fenway Park	4:08	38,437
6	October 18	Boston Red Sox– 4, Tampa Bay Rays – 2	Tropicana Field	3:48	40,947
7	October 19	Boston Red Sox – 1,Tampa Bay Rays– 3	Tropicana Field	3:31	40,473

Game summaries

Game 1

October 10, 2008 8:39 pm (EDT) atTropicana FieldinSt. Petersburg, Florida73 °F (23 °C),dome

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	7	0
Tampa Bay	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
WP:Daisuke Matsuzaka(1–0)LP:James Shields(0–1)Sv:Jonathan Papelbon(1)

Boston won a pitcher's duel on a sacrifice fly byJed Lowriein the fifth off ofJames Shieldsand an RBI double byKevin Youkilisin the eighth off ofJ. P. Howellwith the run charged to Shields. Starter Daisuke Matsuzaka held the Rays hitless untilCarl Crawfordsingled to lead off the seventh inning. He allowed four singles and five walks in seven innings while striking out nine. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth career ALCS save.

Game 2

October 11, 2008 8:08 pm (EDT) atTropicana FieldinSt. Petersburg, Florida73 °F (23 °C),dome

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Boston	2	0	1	0	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	8	12	0
Tampa Bay	2	0	2	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	9	12	0
WP:David Price(1–0)LP:Mike Timlin(0–1) Home runs: BOS:Dustin Pedroia2 (2),Kevin Youkilis(1),Jason Bay(1) TB:Evan Longoria(1),B. J. Upton(1),Cliff Floyd(1)

The Rays won a hard-hitting, marathon game that lasted 5 hours and 27 minutes,and featured seven home runs, which broke theALCSrecord and tied the all-timeLCSrecord.StartersScott KazmirandJosh Beckettwere both ineffective, giving up six of those home runs and lasting under five innings.

In the top of the first,David Ortizwalked andKevin Youkilissingled with two outs before both scored onJason Bay's double, but in the bottom of the inning,Carlos Penadoubled with two outs beforeEvan Longoria's home run tied the game.Dustin Pedroia's leadoff home run in the third put the Red Sox up 3−2, but in the bottom of the inning,B. J. Upton's one-out home run tied the game again, then Longoria doubled with two outs before scoring onCarl Crawford's single to put the Rays up 4–3.Cliff Floyd's leadoff home run in the fourth extended the Rays' lead to 5–3, but home runs by Pedroia and Youkilis in the fifth tied the game.Grant Balfourrelieved Kazmir and allowed a home run to Bay to put the Red Sox up 6–5. In the bottom of the inning, Upton walked without out, stole second and scored on Pena's single to tie the game. Longoria's RBI double then put the Rays up 7–6.Javier Lopezrelieved Beckett and allowed an RBI single to Crawford. Bay's single in the seventh off ofChad Bradfordscored Pedroia, who walked off ofJ. P. Howellwith one out earlier that inning. A wild pitch byDan Wheelerin the eighth allowed Pedroia, who singled to lead off the inning off of Bradford, to score and tie the game, forcing extra innings. In the bottom of the 11th,Mike Timlinwalked three to load the bases before a sacrifice fly by Upton allowedFernando Perezto score the winning run. The Rays' 2007 #1draft pick,David Price,was credited with the win.

Game 3

October 13, 2008 4:39 pm (EDT) atFenway ParkinBoston, Massachusetts60 °F (16 °C), clear

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Tampa Bay	0	1	4	0	0	0	0	3	1	9	13	0
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	7	0
WP:Matt Garza(1–0)LP:Jon Lester(0–1) Home runs: TB:B. J. Upton(2),Evan Longoria(2),Rocco Baldelli(1),Carlos Peña(1) BOS: None

The Rays hit Boston aceJon Lesterand relieverPaul Byrdhard in Game 3, moving ahead two games to one. The Rays scored their first run in the second onDioner Navarro's RBI groundout with runners on second and third. Next inning,B. J. Uptonhit a towering three-run homer over the Green Monster to make it 4–0.Evan Longoriafollowed with a home run later in the inning to make it 5–0. Tampa Bay starterMatt Garzapitched brilliantly against the Red Sox lineup. The 3–4–5 hitters went 0–9 against him and the Red Sox's only run came in the seventh onJacoby Ellsbury's sacrifice fly off ofJ. P. Howellthat scoredJason Varitek,who walked off of Garza to lead off the inning. In the eighth, New England nativeRocco Baldellihit a three-run homer of his own, also over the Green Monster, off of Byrd to seal the win.Carlos Peñahomered in the ninth, also off of Byrd to extend his postseason success.

Game 4

October 14, 2008 8:08 pm (EDT) atFenway ParkinBoston, Massachusetts60 °F (16 °C), mostly clear

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Tampa Bay	3	0	2	0	1	5	0	2	0	13	14	3
Boston	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	4	7	0
WP:Andy Sonnanstine(1–0)LP:Tim Wakefield(0–1) Home runs: TB:Carlos Peña(2),Evan Longoria(3),Willy Aybar(1) BOS:Kevin Cash(1)

The Rays routed the defending World Champions for the second straight night with a 13–4 win in Boston.Carlos Peñagot it going in the first with a two-run homer off starterTim Wakefield.Evan Longoriafollowed it up with his third homer of the series and fifth in the playoffs.Willy Aybarhit his first home run of the postseason in the third when he sent one over the Green Monster for a two-run homer.Kevin Cash's leadoff home run in the third off of Rays starterAndy Sonnanstineput the Red Sox on the board. In the fifth,Carl Crawforddoubled with one out in the fifth off ofJustin Mastersonand scored on Aybar's single. Next inning,Jason Bartletttripled with one out off ofManny Delcarmen.

AfterAkinori Iwamurawalked,B. J. Upton's RBI single made it 7–1 Rays. Delcarmen walked two to load the bases and force in another run before being relieved byJavier Lopez,who allowed back-to-back RBI singles to Crawford and Aybar, then an RBI groundout to Navarro. In the bottom of the inning,David Ortizhit a leadoff triple and scored onKevin Youkilis's groundout. In the eighth,Mike Timlinwalked Pena to lead off the inning, then allowed an RBI triple to Crawford and RBI single to Aybar. In the bottom of the inning,Jed Lowriehit a leadoff single, moved to second on a groundout and scored onDustin Pedroia's single.Trever Millerrelieved Sonnastine and allowed a two-out RBI double to Youkilis.Edwin Jacksonpitched a scoreless ninth as the Rays were one win away from the World Series.Carl Crawfordwent 5-for-5 with two stolen bases in the game.

Game 5

October 16, 2008 8:08 pm (EDT) atFenway ParkinBoston, Massachusetts66 °F (19 °C), overcast

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Tampa Bay	2	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	7	8	1
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	3	1	8	11	0
WP:Justin Masterson(1–0)LP:J. P. Howell(0–1) Home runs: TB:B. J. Upton(3),Carlos Peña(3),Evan Longoria(4) BOS:David Ortiz(1),J. D. Drew(1)

Tampa Bay jumped out to an early lead whenB. J. Uptonhit a two-run home run with no one out in the first inning.Carlos PeñaandEvan Longoriaincreased the lead to 5–0 with back-to-back home runs in the third, the former a two-run shot. With his home run, Longoria tiedCarlos Beltrán's record for consecutive postseason games with a home run.Daisuke Matsuzakaallowed no more runs after that through six innings, but Boston was unable to score againstScott Kazmir.In the top of the seventh,Jonathan Papelboncame on afterManny Delcarmenwalked the only two batters he faced. The inherited runners scored on an Upton double, making it 7–0.

In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs and runners on first and third,Dustin Pedroiahit an RBI single offGrant Balfourto finally get the Red Sox on the board. The next batter,David Ortiz,hit a three-run home run to right field, ending a postseason home run drought of 61 at-bats. In the eighth inning,J. D. Drewhit a two-run homer to right field offDan Wheeler.Later,Coco Crisphit an RBI single to right field to scoreMark Kotsayfrom second to tie the game. In the ninth inning, afterJ. P. Howellretired the first two Boston batters,Kevin Youkilishit a ground ball to third base. Longoria scooped the ball, but his throw was off, and bounced into the stands, allowing Youkilis to reach second. After an intentional walk toJason Bay,Drew hit a single over the head of right fielderGabe Grossto win the game.

The comeback of the Red Sox from a seven-run deficit is the second-biggest in postseason history, the largest sinceGame 4 of the 1929 World Series,and the largest ever for a team on the brink of elimination.

Game 6

October 18, 2008 8:08 pm (EDT) atTropicana FieldinSt. Petersburg, Florida73 °F (23 °C),dome

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston	0	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	10	0
Tampa Bay	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	4	1
WP:Josh Beckett(1–0)LP:James Shields(0–2)Sv:Jonathan Papelbon(2) Home runs: BOS:Kevin Youkilis(2),Jason Varitek(1) TB:B. J. Upton(4),Jason Bartlett(1)

All StarKevin Youkilis

Josh Beckettpitched five innings and allowed two solo home runs, toB. J. Uptonin the first andJason Bartlettin the fifth, to record the win. Boston scored on home runs fromKevin Youkilisin the second andJason Varitek(his first series hit) in the sixth, a Youkilis groundout in the third, and a single byDavid Ortizafter Bartlett's throwing error extended the sixth inning.

UmpireDerryl Cousinswas struck by a foul ball from Varitek in the second inning, leaving the game with a bruised collarbone after the third. The game was delayed for 15 minutes while Cousins was X-rayed by Rays trainerRon Porterfield;the game resumed with a five-man umpiring crew.

TBS television missed most of the game's first inning, with viewers getting a rerun ofThe Steve Harvey Showinstead. The network picked up the game just prior to the last out in the bottom of the first, with announcer Chip Caray apologizing to viewers for "technical difficulties". TBS acknowledged there was a problem with one of their routers used in the broadcast transmission of the relay of the telecast from Atlanta.

When facing elimination,Terry Francona's Red Sox won nine of ten postseason games.

Game 7

October 19, 2008 8:09 pm (EDT) atTropicana FieldinSt. Petersburg, Florida73 °F (23 °C),dome

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0
Tampa Bay	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	X	3	6	1
WP:Matt Garza(2–0)LP:Jon Lester(0–2)Sv:David Price(1) Home runs: BOS:Dustin Pedroia(3) TB:Willy Aybar(2)

The Rays shook off the ghosts of Red Sox past to win their first American League pennant, winning a tight game 3–1.Dustin Pedroiagot the Red Sox off to a good start with a one-out homer in the first offMatt Garza,but Garza settled in and delivered an MVP performance. Tampa Bay tied the game in the fourth with anEvan LongoriaRBI double, then went ahead in the fifth on an RBI single byRocco Baldelli.In the seventh,Willy Aybaradded insurance with a home run to lead off. In the eighth,David Price,who made his major league debut a little over a month before came on to pitch toJ. D. Drewwith the bases loaded and struck him out on achecked swing.In the ninth, Price recorded his first Major League save by gettingJed Lowrieto ground into aforce playtoAkinori Iwamura.With the win, the Rays became the second team to go to the World Series after posting the worst record the year before, joining the1991 Atlanta Braves,who went on to lose to theMinnesota Twins.

Composite box

2008 ALCS(4–3):Tampa Bay RaysoverBoston Red Sox

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Tampa Bay Rays	8	1	11	2	6	5	3	5	1	0	1	43	61	6
Boston Red Sox	3	1	3	0	4	3	6	7	1	0	0	28	57	0
Total attendance:265,926Average attendance:37,989

Aftermath

After being plagued by futility as the Devil Rays, amassing just a.399 winning percentage over their brief first 11 years as a franchise, the “worst-to-first” 2008 Rays set a new standard of success for baseball in Tampa Bay. Led by general managerAndrew Freidmanand managerJoe Maddon,the Rays became one of the more innovative teams in baseball. From 2010–2013, the Rays won at least 90 games each season, a remarkable feat for a team with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, particularly in a division with the Yankees and Red Sox. Even after Freidman and Maddon left after the2014 season,the Rays success and innovation continued.Run byMatthew Silverman,Chaim Bloom(who eventually became the Red Sox President of Baseball Operation after the 2019 season), andErik Neander(an interim in 2008), the Rays tied the franchise record in wins in2019,won the pennant in2020for the first time since 2008, and surpassed the franchise record for wins and won 100 games in2021.The Rays influence did not just stop with the team. In 2021, lead executives of three of the final four teams in the 2021 postseason all received their start in MLB in Tampa Bay.

The 2008 Rays were covered in depth in the book ‘The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First’ byJonah Keri.

In 2011, The Red Sox became the first team in the history of Major League Baseball to have a nine-game lead in September and fail to make the postseason that season, thanks to their 7-20 record in the final month of the regular season. Their collapse allowed the Rays to sneak past them to win a wild card spot.The Red Sox avenged their 2011 collapse and 2008 ALCS series loss to the Rays in the2013 American League Division Series,beating Tampa Bay in four games. The Red Sox would go on to win theWorld Series in 2013,their third championship in nine seasons. The Red Sox would later go on to beat the Rays in the2021 American League Division Seriesin four games, as well.

Kevin Cash,a back-up catcher in 2008 for the Red Sox, has been the Tampa Bay Rays manager since 2018, winning themanager of the yearin 2020. Cash was also a part-time catcher for Tampa Bay in2005.

External links

• 2008 ALCS at Baseball Reference