The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays have enjoyed their fair share of postseason success in recent years and as they prepare to enter Game 4 of the 2013 American League Division Series, both teams surely have a lot on the line. Boston took the first two games of the series at Fenway Park thanks to tremendous offense and consistent pitching, and while it certainly looked like the American League East Champions were on their way to a sweep of the division rival Rays, Tampa answered back in Game 3.
Winning their fourth elimination game in the last nine days, the Rays are now ready for yet another win-or-go-home scenario and their only goal is to return to Boston for a decisive Game 5. "It kind of showed the way this team is right now and the fact that we're not going to die," Tampa's Game 3 starter Alex Cobb said of the team's come-from-behind victory. "You're going to have to take our last breath away from us, and we're still going to be fighting and screaming at the end. It's going to be a fun ride. I don't think it's going to be over anytime soon."
Scoring 1 in the first and 2 more in the fifth inning, the Red Sox jumped out to a 3-0 lead and looked poised to continue their recent dominance of Tampa Bay. With two out and two on in the fifth however, the Sox watched as Rays third baseman Evan Longoria drilled a deep home run to tie the game at 3. Tied at 4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Red Sox closer Koji Uehara surrendered a game-ending home run to Jose Lobaton, sending the Rays faithful into a frenzy and guaranteeing Tampa at least one more game in the series.
Knowing the task of closing out the Rays in quick fashion would not be easy, Sox manager John Farrell trusts his club's ability to bounce back from the recent walk-off loss.
"Our guys have a very strong ability to put this one behind us," he said. "We knew coming in this was going to be a hard fought series."
With Game 4 set to take place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, Boston will send Jake Peavy to the mound while Tampa plans to counter with Jeremy Hellickson.
ALDS Game 4: Boston vs. Tampa Bay - DATE, TIME & TV INFO
DATE: Tuesday, October 8
TIME: 8:30pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: TBS
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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