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.

ATTENTION WORLD - RAYS BEAT BOSTON

The Rays will play the Phillies. In the the World Series. The LAST game of the 2008 MLB Season...

What a night. The Rays played their game. The Red Sox endured the brilliance of The Pit. 41,000 fans armed with obnoxious cowbells and an aresenal of mohawks... and it rattled them. Just enough.

Garza was lights out and how 'bout David Price's finish? The punch-em-out/throw-em-out combo by Garza and Navi in the top of the 6th was game changing. RBI hits from Longo and Rocco and another home run by Willy Aybar manufactured the runs. Aki snags a laceburning rocket to end it. And for a half second thinks about stickin' the ball in his back pocket as a souvenier.

Congratulations Tampa Bay.

Feel The Heat Philadelphia!

Cheers!

The Team "Takes One" For The Trop

There's a dome in St. Pete called The Trop.

Protecting fans from the almighty raindrop.

Her future is murky,

Her rings a bit quirky,

But for the Rays, she's a hell of of Backstop.

Weird winds blowing through Fenway last night.  Did you notice how Boston's bombs were being sucked in the general direction of Florida? Along with critical throws from the hand of Longoria and Gross? It's as if some force greater than baseball was determined to see a Game 6 played there.

Like a jilted lover watching the object of her affection slip into the warm embrace of an older woman, The Trop girded her loins. Graciously hosting legions of Red Sox loving bandwagoners has made her a tough broad. And street smart.  The Rays were annointed AL East Champions deep within the bowels of Comerica Park and their ALDS victory was celebrated at U.S. Cellular Field. She'd had a taste of playoff bubbly when the Rays clinched a playoff spot in September and she wanted more.  Having studied the long odds against back to back League Championships and knowing her days may be numbered, The Trop reversed her almighty blowers and pulled the series back to St. Pete.

Sportswriters will quibble over Maddon's bullpen management and credit Francona's genius in putting Papelbon on the mound in the 7th inning, but The Trop knows her boys play better with an edge.  She roughed 'em up a little last night. Not just to bring the party home, but to put the team in the right frame of mind for The World Series.  Oh, and she's really sorry about wasting a K-K-K-K-K-K-K-Kazmir gem, but she knows what's best for you.

Don't let her down boys. She and her rings have your back.  Show her the love.