Tug McGraw Conjures Up A Game 3 Win For The Phils

The Battle Of The Baseball Supernaturals  World Series took an eerie turn last night.   Reminiscent of The Rays inexplicable Game 5 loss to The Red Sox last week, the Phillies came out on top last night despite another umpiring non-controversy that broke the Rays Way. Here's the bloody game recap. Crikey.

You see, the ghost of Tug McGraw was quietly wrecking havoc with the Rays' 9th inning defense as the team tried to send a tied game to extras. At 1:47am.  His long lost, then found son, Tim McGraw of country music fame, walked the game ball out to legendary Phillies hurler Steve Carlton for the first pitch ceremony last night.  Seems he walked a little bit of Tug around the mound as well.

Explains a lot:

• Jamie Moyer's Game Of A Lifetime while sick as a dog. From the looks of things, might be tonsilitis.
• Matt Garza's Which Matt Is That performance
• Longo's wind shortened longball to LF in the top of the 6th with 2 out and one on
• Utley and Howards' back to back wind lengthened jacks to RF in the bottom of the 6th
• The Mad Australian's plunking of Santa Rosa's pinch-hitting Eric Bruntlett in the bottom of the 9th
• The Mad Australian's Wild Pitch in the 9th allowing baserunners to advance
• Navi's bad throw on a 9th inning attempt allowing baserunners to advance
• Carlos Ruiz dribbler down the 3rd base line with bases loaded and a 5 man infield shift
• Evan Longoria's Hail Mary lob of Ruiz' dribbler over Navi's head
• The Phillies' walk-off dribbler is only their second base hit of the night 

And wouldn't you know it... the lead baserunner who was advanced all the way to walk-off run scoring status was Philly Eric Bruntlett, a guy who lives 20 miles up the road from PTown.

So, in a magnaimous return to The Pearls' roots... giving kudos to PTown area pros in pursuit of America's Game... Eric, here are your kudos.  Your second Pearlacious World Series Moment has been duly noted.  And my journalistic responsibilities have been met. And we expect to see you at Camp next weekend.

The Rays must win tonight or tomorrow to bring the Series home to Tampa Bay.  Where The Trop can work her much more potent magic.

Rays Gearing Up For A Game Of Inches?

Pre-Game Pearls for tonight's must maintain momentum m-m-m-game. 

• Jonesin' for the Rays Walk Up Music during this road trip? There's a playlist at the bottom of the post ;-)
• BJ bounced back from a disappointing Game One, driving in what proved to be the winning run in the 4th.  The fielding tools of fans in Section 120 went untested in Game Two.
• But, Melvin Upton, you hustle your booty down the line every time. It's a game of inches and that inch might mean earn a World Series Ring.  Just ask Rocco. Almost punched out and drew a huge walk in a moment of umpire indecision.  Almost safe at home in a massive collision.  And how 'bout that beautiful double play catch/pick off combo catching Jason Werth too far off first base.  Game of inches. You never know when Werth is gonna serve up another bobble-drop on a routine play in right. Game of inches BJ. If Rocco can run like he might not see another World Series, so can you.  No style points for gliding on the basepaths. Especially the first 90 feet.
• Wicked weather predicted in Philly today.  Sounds like the worst might blow through by 9pm.  Or maybe not.  Could be a long night on the east coast.
• A rainout tonight might also muck up the Rays rotation.  Rays Index does a great job breaking that down. (http://www.raysindex.com/2008/10/world-series-rotation-rainout-could.html)
• Santa Rosa's Eric Bruntlett had his 15 minutes of fame getting the Phillies on the board with a solo pinch hit home run in Game Two. That'll be enough Eric. You don't need to be a hero to get an invite to Camp For A Cure.  
• Taylor Swift sings the National Anthem tonight.  Barely better than Tampa Bay's Back Street Boys.  Not by much. And I'm a country fan.
• Jonny Gomes the Spin Doctor.  All miked up for Game Three after his now famous flesh pressing with Obama.  The chatter that made it through was a spin on a Maddon quote last week. And it flopped. 
• Speaking of Joe Maddon, he was named Manager of the Year.  Amen. Exactly right. Here's a neat little tour of the Skipper's office courtesy of ESPN's Jim Caple.
  
  
  
• The Mad Australian, Grant Balfour is back on track. Pena and Longo need to ride that wave. The team whose bats wake up first might just win this thing.  The Phillies' are capable of much better than 1-28 with Runners In Scoring Position. 
• Jonesin for the Rays Walk Up Music? 

White Sox Blacked Out. Rays to ALCS!

Oh my. Win # 100.
They are playing for
the American League Championship.

Outrageous.

The eye black is dripping down my shirt. But it's running in rivers down the steps of US Cellular Field. The Chicago Black Out was an awesome show of fan support.

BJ has found his stroke, alright, going yard in his first two at bats. Pena is back on his game after that untimely eye injury on the eve of Game One. The Ray's first baseman was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs tonight. Cliff Floyd and Dioner Navarro each drove in a run to round out the 6-2 effort for Tampa Bay. Props to Gabe Gross for plucking A.J. Pierzynski's long ball out of the air as it crossed the fence down the 1st base line. Sonny pitched a beautiful 5.2 innings giving up (only) 2 home runs on 3 hits. Grant Balfour came on in relief of Howell in the 8th and stayed in the game to close, facing only 7 batters in two innings. Troy who?

The boys are now pillaging the Visitors' Club House at US Cellular Field while the Angels try to send their series with the Red Sox back to LA. That's a fine idea. Another double digit inning, bullpen bashing, marathon would be a delightful way to spend a Monday evening. Then you can count on PTown fan to phlip phlop one more time. An ALCS match up with Boston means home field advantage for the Rays. And we totally rock at The Trop.

Dear Mrs. Pena,

If (only) you read my blog, please don't give Carlos any "honey do's" between now and the end of October.  We need both eyes on the ball.  Big time.  I totally rock at dusting.  I'm happy to fill in.  Limited time offer...  After RockTober, it's over.

Feel the love,

PTownFan

HooRAY! Sox Unraveled In Game One.

Brilliant baseball at The Trop in October.  What fun.  A 6-4 win over the White Sox cast a pall over South Side Chicago but Happy Hour was wild and ca-ray-zy in St. Pete .

Pearls from Game One:

• 
  
  Aki!   Akinori Iwamura tripled over Griffey's head and later scored in the 3rd to redirect the momentum and tie the game after a three run homer by Dewayne Wise put the Sox on top 3-1 in the top of the inning.  This clutch piece of hitting will be completely forgotten in a day or two because...
• 
  
  Long-oooooo made history, going yard in his first two post-season at bats.  That's only been done once, by Gary Gaetti in 1987. But Evan Longoria did it in his rookie season.  I for one, am retroactively extremely happy that the Rays finished last in 2006.  Otherwise, Evan would most likely be doing all this damage for someone else.  Longo was 3-3 yesterday with 3 RBIs. Keep it up Evan.  Rookie Of The Year might not be enough bling for you.
• 
  
  Crikey!  Orlando Cabrera must have been co-starring with Nick Swisher in a Sharpie bat handle doodling commercial instead of reading the pre-game notes on Rays relief pitcher Grant Balfour. Our boy from down under can conjugate the !*@# word more ways than Websters.  Anyone that's faced him this season knows Grant swears to himself on the mound. But it's nothing personal unless you kick dirt in his direction and tell him to throw something over the plate.  Then, be prepared to SIT DOWN.  On three fastballs over the plate. Score one for the Aussie. Good thing pitchers don't bat in this series.
• 
  
  Oopsie Daisy!  Paul Konerko ditched the shin guard and jogged toward first on a 3-2 count. C'mon back Paul.  Shoulda let him go.  He came back and hammered three foul balls before sending one over the LF wall.  Somehow, you could just see it coming.
• 
  
  No More Honey Do's for Carlos!  Seems Senor Pena was doing some household chores, got something in his eye and couldn't see straight yesterday.  Gotta say, Willy Aybar did an awesome job filling in for the best fielding 1B in baseball.  And a 1 for 2 day at the plate too. 
• 
  
  Props For The PTownPro.  Jonny might not be on the post-season roster, but 707's #31 is still In The House... and on every Rays highlight reel. 

The pearliest pearl of them all was the rather routine way the Rays got win #98 of 2008.  And their very first playoff win.  Great baseball in front of a packed house.  Great pitching, excellent defense and plenty of situational hitting. There's a whole lot more where that came from. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!