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Moriarty9 · 06-08-2009, 12:43 PM

Devil Rays prepare for ALCS
Hope to finally get over hump, into World Series
October 7, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will take the field in the American League Championship Series for the fourth time in five years.

The franchise is only six years old, but will have its fourth shot to advance to the World Series. The team has gone to Game 7 of the ALCS each of the last two seasons, only to head home disappointed. Will this year be more of the same, or the year that they get through to the World Series?

The Devil Rays will take on the Seattle Mariners, the American League West division champions. The Mariners went 93-69 this year, finishing six games ahead of the Anaheim Angels.

One ray of hope for Tampa Bay is that they defeated the Mariners five times out of six this season, losing only game to Seattle. The only win for the M's against the Devil Rays was a 6-5 victory.

"They've got good pitching and defense, but so do we," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We've got the better offense so I really like our chances in this series."

The only time these two teams have met in the playoffs before came last year, when Tampa Bay beat the Mariners three games to one in the American League Division Series.

06-08-2009, 12:43 PM	#354 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Devil Rays prepare for ALCS Hope to finally get over hump, into World Series October 7, 2003 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will take the field in the American League Championship Series for the fourth time in five years. The franchise is only six years old, but will have its fourth shot to advance to the World Series. The team has gone to Game 7 of the ALCS each of the last two seasons, only to head home disappointed. Will this year be more of the same, or the year that they get through to the World Series? The Devil Rays will take on the Seattle Mariners, the American League West division champions. The Mariners went 93-69 this year, finishing six games ahead of the Anaheim Angels. One ray of hope for Tampa Bay is that they defeated the Mariners five times out of six this season, losing only game to Seattle. The only win for the M's against the Devil Rays was a 6-5 victory. "They've got good pitching and defense, but so do we," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We've got the better offense so I really like our chances in this series." The only time these two teams have met in the playoffs before came last year, when Tampa Bay beat the Mariners three games to one in the American League Division Series.