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Moriarty9 · 10-03-2009, 11:53 AM

Laird hits walk off single
Devil Rays top Angels in wild Game 1
October 8, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — From the first pitch to the last, Game 1 of the American League Championship Series was exciting to watch.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 7-6, in the first game of the best-of-seven series to see who wins the pennant and heads to the World Series.

Angels centerfielder Shane Victorino got things rolling with the first pitch of the game, belting a Pedro Martinez to center field for a solo home run. Roughly three hours later, it would be Gerald Laird hitting a walk-off single to send the hometown crowd home happy.

The Angels had a 5-3 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth inning. Johan Santana took the mound for the eighth but surrendered a lead off home run to Josh Hamilton to open the inning and was pulled in favor of left-handed reliever B.J. Ryan. Ben Francisco greeted Ryan with a single, putting the tying run on base with no outs in the eighth. Alexis Gomez worked an eight-pitch at bat into a walk before Laird flied out to left field for the first out. Brendan Harris drew a walk to load the bases with the top of the order coming up. Michael Young tied the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Francisco to score from third. Aubrey Huff followed with a RBI single through the right side of the infield, giving the Devil Rays a 6-5 lead, their first lead of the game.

Jonathan Papelbon, who came into the game with 11 2/3 scoreless innings of baseball in his post-season career, took the mound for the ninth inning to close out Game 1. A 1-1 fastball tailed too far inside and hit leadoff hitter Garret Atkins, putting the tying run on base for Los Angeles. Pete Orr came in as a pinch runner for Atkins and advanced to second base and then third base on ground outs from Alex Rios and Chris Gomez. Victorino tied the game with a RBI double in the left-centerfield gap, before Mike Lowell flied out to right field to end the inning.

Tampa Bay responded quickly in the last of the ninth off reliever Jose Valverde. Hamilton continued his torrid October, hitting a double to right field to open the inning. Francisco grounded out and the Angels decided that with one out and first base open, they would walk Gomez and take their chances with Laird and Harris. Laird would make Anaheim regret the move as he singled through the left side of the infield and Hamilton aggressively rounded third and scored easily from second base to win the game.

"This team doesn't quit, and we play hard all night long, and that's why we're here," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Top of the order to the bottom of the order, we play ball and we play it hard, and it really paid off tonight."

Every player in the Tampa Bay lineup had at least one hit in the game and eight of the nine either scored a run or drove in a run.

Francisco went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, Hamilton went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, one RBI and two runs scored, while Young went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, and two RBI.

Though he blew the save, Papelbon picked up the win while Valverde took the loss.

Neither team's starters factored in the decision. Santana allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks with six strikeouts in seven-plus innings while Pedro Martinez gave up five runs on 10 hits and no walks over eight innings, striking out five.

Game 2 of the ALCS will be tomorrow night at Tropicana Field. Carlos Zambrano will toe the slab for the Angels while Zack Greinke works for the Devil Rays.

Zambrano went 13-13 with a 3.30 ERA in 35 starts this season, and was especially good against Tampa Bay, posting a 3-0 record and a 1.27 ERA in three starts. Zambrano picked up a win against the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS with a 6 1/3 inning effort in which he allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits and four walks. He is 3-1 with a 4.38 ERA in six career playoff starts.

Greinke had a 13-9 season with a 3.35 ERA in 201 2/3 innings. He struggled in his only start against the Angels this year, giving up five runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Los Angeles in May. Greinke is 4-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five playoff starts. His ERA is a little bloated from a rough outing against the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the ALDS, in which he allowed eight runs, seven earned, in just 5 1/3 innings.

10-03-2009, 11:53 AM	#585 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Laird hits walk off single Devil Rays top Angels in wild Game 1 October 8, 2009 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — From the first pitch to the last, Game 1 of the American League Championship Series was exciting to watch. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 7-6, in the first game of the best-of-seven series to see who wins the pennant and heads to the World Series. Angels centerfielder Shane Victorino got things rolling with the first pitch of the game, belting a Pedro Martinez to center field for a solo home run. Roughly three hours later, it would be Gerald Laird hitting a walk-off single to send the hometown crowd home happy. The Angels had a 5-3 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth inning. Johan Santana took the mound for the eighth but surrendered a lead off home run to Josh Hamilton to open the inning and was pulled in favor of left-handed reliever B.J. Ryan. Ben Francisco greeted Ryan with a single, putting the tying run on base with no outs in the eighth. Alexis Gomez worked an eight-pitch at bat into a walk before Laird flied out to left field for the first out. Brendan Harris drew a walk to load the bases with the top of the order coming up. Michael Young tied the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Francisco to score from third. Aubrey Huff followed with a RBI single through the right side of the infield, giving the Devil Rays a 6-5 lead, their first lead of the game. Jonathan Papelbon, who came into the game with 11 2/3 scoreless innings of baseball in his post-season career, took the mound for the ninth inning to close out Game 1. A 1-1 fastball tailed too far inside and hit leadoff hitter Garret Atkins, putting the tying run on base for Los Angeles. Pete Orr came in as a pinch runner for Atkins and advanced to second base and then third base on ground outs from Alex Rios and Chris Gomez. Victorino tied the game with a RBI double in the left-centerfield gap, before Mike Lowell flied out to right field to end the inning. Tampa Bay responded quickly in the last of the ninth off reliever Jose Valverde. Hamilton continued his torrid October, hitting a double to right field to open the inning. Francisco grounded out and the Angels decided that with one out and first base open, they would walk Gomez and take their chances with Laird and Harris. Laird would make Anaheim regret the move as he singled through the left side of the infield and Hamilton aggressively rounded third and scored easily from second base to win the game. "This team doesn't quit, and we play hard all night long, and that's why we're here," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Top of the order to the bottom of the order, we play ball and we play it hard, and it really paid off tonight." Every player in the Tampa Bay lineup had at least one hit in the game and eight of the nine either scored a run or drove in a run. Francisco went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, Hamilton went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, one RBI and two runs scored, while Young went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, and two RBI. Though he blew the save, Papelbon picked up the win while Valverde took the loss. Neither team's starters factored in the decision. Santana allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks with six strikeouts in seven-plus innings while Pedro Martinez gave up five runs on 10 hits and no walks over eight innings, striking out five. Game 2 of the ALCS will be tomorrow night at Tropicana Field. Carlos Zambrano will toe the slab for the Angels while Zack Greinke works for the Devil Rays. Zambrano went 13-13 with a 3.30 ERA in 35 starts this season, and was especially good against Tampa Bay, posting a 3-0 record and a 1.27 ERA in three starts. Zambrano picked up a win against the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS with a 6 1/3 inning effort in which he allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits and four walks. He is 3-1 with a 4.38 ERA in six career playoff starts. Greinke had a 13-9 season with a 3.35 ERA in 201 2/3 innings. He struggled in his only start against the Angels this year, giving up five runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Los Angeles in May. Greinke is 4-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five playoff starts. His ERA is a little bloated from a rough outing against the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the ALDS, in which he allowed eight runs, seven earned, in just 5 1/3 innings.