MLB Playoff Magic – Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Without a doubt, magic is in the air in the American League Championship Series. The Tampa Bay Rays may be the ultimate Cinderella story, but Lady Luck was on the side of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, as it staved off elimination by scoring eight unanswered runs in the final three frames of their baseball betting match-up to win 8-7.
After Tampa Bay took two out of three games at Fenway Park, the two teams will return to Tropicana Field for Game 6 on Saturday night, with the Rays still looking for that elusive ‘W’ that would send them to the World Series.
Even though it was a highly criticized move, Rays skipper Joe Maddon appeared to have flopped the nuts once again when starting pitcher Scott Kazmir only gave up two hits, three walks, and no runs in six innings against the Sox. It was the bullpen, which was the best in baseball this season, that let Tampa Bay down however surrendering eight runs in just 2 2/3rd innings of work. David Ortiz broke his slump by blasting a three-run homer to start the comeback in the 7th, but the hero was JD Drew, who hit a two-run blast in the 8th, then got the game-winning single in the 9th.
It was a tough loss for Rays bettors, who were already waiting at the window to cash their tickets after taking a 7-0 lead in the top of the 7th. They’re still up 3.96 units on the postseason. Boston playoff bettors are now 5-4 but still down 0.34 units. After a 2-0 dud for ‘over’ bettors in Game 1, the two teams have combined to play four straight games ‘over’ the ‘total’.
On Saturday, Boston will look to stay alive with RHP Josh Beckett on the mound. Beckett has become their biggest liability in the playoffs. In his two starts, the righty has gone 9.1 innings and given up 12 runs. Beckett got no decisions in both games, but the Sox were defeated both times. He was disastrous in Game 2 at the Trop, giving up three homers and eight total runs in just 4.1 innings. Red Sox bettors have had an awful time with their ace on the mound, losing five straight and nine of their L/12.
After losing Game 5, Maddon will give the ball to his most dominant starter this season, RHP James Shields. He was a tough luck loser in Game 1, only allowing two runs in 7.1 innings. In seven of Shields’ L/8 starts, he allowed three or fewer runs. The Rays went 5-3 in those games. Even though he’s clearly the team’s ace after going 14-8 on the season, Rays bettors should be very afraid of the fact that he is just 2-4 with a 5.23 ERA in eight career starts against the Bo Sox.
The Sox are just 2-10 in their L/12 games in Tampa Bay, and oddsmakers believe their season ends tonight after installing Tampa Bay as –155 home favorites with the ‘total’ set at 8.5 over –120.
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