The Tampa Bay Rays are still afloat in the AL division series.
Jose Lobaton hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning into the giant fish tank beyond center field and Tampa Bay staved off elimination once again by beating the Boston Red Sox 5 4 Monday night.
Evan Longoria had a three run homer and the Rays averted a playoff sweep cutting Boston's lead to 2 1 in the best of five series. Game 4 is Tuesday night at Tropicana Field with Jake Peavy starting for the Red Sox against Jeremy Hellickson.
Look at this whole week working up to today and then this game is even more dramatic than the other games we had already won manager Joe Maddon said. It's really an incredible day for the Rays.
Tampa Bay took a win or go home game for the fourth time in nine days. The Rays did it with an unlikely stroke as Lobaton who came off the bench to catch in the top of the ninth connected against Red Sox closer Koji Uehara.
It's unbelievable. It's something you can't explain Lobaton said. We never give up. We're going to keep fighting.
Back home after two weeks on the road the Rays gave a sellout crowd of 33 675 little to cheer until Longoria homered on his 28th birthday. His three run shot off Clay Buchholz with two outs in the fifth rallied Tampa Bay to a 3 all tie.
Pinch hitter Delmon Young who has a penchant for driving home key runs in October put the Rays ahead 4 3 with an RBI grounder in the eighth.
The Red Sox tied it in the ninth after closer Fernando Rodney issued a leadoff walk to Will Middlebrooks. Dustin Pedroia's RBI grounder made it 4 all.
With a runner on third pinch hitter Mike Carp was called out on strikes to end the inning. Carp batted for Quintin Berry who entered as a pinch runner for David Ortiz in the eighth.
Berry stole second on a close play that drew an argument from Maddon. But when Ortiz's spot came up again in the ninth Boston's big slugger was out of the game.
Rodney got the win when Lobaton golfed a low pitch to right center. The ball deflected off a fan trying to catch the souvenir and wound up in the 10 000 gallon tank where cownose rays swim around.
Maddon said he was studying his lineup card when he heard the crack of the bat.
Look up and the ball is going towards the tank which nobody hits home runs there. Nobody does. How about that It's incredible he said.
Uehara did not allow a home run in his final 37 regular season appearances. The last time he served one up was June 30 to Toronto slugger Jose Bautista.
That was an exciting game. Well played game Boston manager John Farrell said.
The Rays won three must win road games in three cities over four days just to get into the division series so they felt good about their chances of coming back against the Red Sox.
Especially with Alex Cobb on the mound. The right hander beat Cleveland 4 0 in the AL wild card game last Wednesday and has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the majors since August 2012.
The Red Sox were just as confident about the prospect of closing out the series.
I'm sure there's an attitude they have nothing to lose and just let it all hang out Farrell said. That's what we've been accustomed to for years against the Rays. As I mentioned before the series started we have tremendous respect for them and we know it will be a very similar game tomorrow night.
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