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"Big Game James" Gets Rays Even

RAYS 4
PHILLIES 2
Series Tied 1-1

It's now a brand new series. The Tampa Bay Rays, behind the efforts of their ace, James Sheilds, have evened up the 2008 World Series at a game apiece with a 4-2 victory over Philadelphia. The win was Tampa's first ever World Series game victory.

Even though Shields was solid tonight for Tampa, it was the Ray offense that set the tone early in this one. Phillies pitcher Brett Myers showed some early wildness as he walked Akniora Iwamura to start the bottom of the first. B.J. Upton followed with a single to right. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, Jayson Werth made a fielding error on the relay throw, allowing Iwamura and Upton to advance.

Carlos Pena followed with a RBI groundout to give Tampa a 1-0 lead. Evan Longoria, who has struggled in this series, grounded out into an RBI as well, 2-0 Tampa Bay.

In the second, the Rays got to Myers again. Duaner Navarro singled and Rocco Baldelli walked to get things started. Jason Bartlett followed with a single to load the bases. Clearly, Myers had nothing in this game. Myers is known for his wildness, but this was just unacceptable for the Phillies and it raises a huge concern about his mental makeup if there is a game six. Upton singled to right to drive in Navarro. Baldelli also tried to score, but he was tagged out at home.

Myers found a way to get through seven innings, but his early wildness cost his Phillies any hopes of winning the game.

Shields went five and two-thirds, scattering seven hits with four strikeouts.

Still, things got interesting in the eighth. With Rays de facto closer David Price now pitching, Eric Bruntlett blasted a solo homerun to left to cut the Rays lead to 4-1. In the ninth, Carlos Ruiz led off with a double and was later brought in after Werth reached on a throwing error by third baseman Evan Longoria. It was 4-2 Tampa, but somehow, Price found a way to get Chase Utley to strike out swinging, and Ryan Howard to ground out to end the game.

The series now moves to Philadelphia for games three, four and five. There is the possibility for rain on Saturday, which could push the series back a day, and possibly put Philadelphia in the splendid position of having Cole Hamels return to the mound for game four.

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