October 20, 2008 Rays headed to first ever World Series

(NECN) - It took seven games, but the Tampa Rays made their first World Series in the his of the franchise with a 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

What was touted as a pitcher's duel lived up to the promise.

Matt Garza was stellar for the Rays, allowing only one run in 7 innings of work -- a solo home run hit by Dustin Pedroia in the top of the first inning.

Garza struck out nine batters and allowed just two hits in the game.

As for Lester, he started out strong, but appeared to tire as the game wore on.

The Rays scored their first run in the fourth inning, tying the game on an RBI double off the bat of Evan Longoria. Carlos Pena scored all the way from first base, just beating the relay throw from Dustin Pedroia.

In the fifth, Rocco Baldelli drove home a run on a slow rolling single to left, scoring Willie Aybar from second base. That put the Rays up by one.

In the seventh, Aybar added an insurance run -- a deep solo homer off of Lester to put the Rays up 3-1.

The best chance for the Red Sox came in the top of the 8th. Shortstop Jason Bartlett booted an Alex Cora ground ball, chasing Garza from the game.

Dan Wheeler was brought in, and promptly allowed a single to Coco Crisp. Next up, Dustin Pedroia. Sox fans were looking for him to do it again, but all he could muster was a fly out to left field.

Rays manager Joe Maddon went through five pitchers in the 8th, but finally settled on David Price

with the bases loaded to face JD Drew. With the bases loaded and two out, Price struck out Drew on a questionable call. Home plate umpire Brian Gorman rang up Drew on a check swing without checking first with the third base umpire. That ended the inning, and essentially the game for Boston.

Hideki Okajima worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th to put the Sox back at the plate. But Price was too much.

With a runner on first and two out, Price got pinch hitter Jed Lowrie to ground out to second baseman Akinori Iwamura, who tagged the bag at second, punching Tampa's ticket to their first ever World Series.