On To Tampa For ALCS

Now there's a phrase I never thought would be uttered with relation to the MLB playoffs, but with the Devil Rays (go ahead, fine me) defeating the White Sox 6-2 earlier tonight and the Red Sox edging the Angels 3-2 it became a reality. 

The Red Sox were in control after scoring two runs in the bottom of the 5th inning to go up 2-0. Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in Mark Kotsay, while consequently advancing Jason Varitek over to second base. Varitek would later cross the plate from a Dustin Pedroia double.

But the Angels would not go quietly, as they battled back to even up the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Torii Hunter, who was heckled with chants of "Tooorrrriiii" throughout his at-bat, knocked in Mark Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero as the Angels sucked the life out of Fenway Park.

With 1 out in the top of the 9th, the Angels threatened to take the lead as Reggie Willits stood 90 feet away from taking the lead. Erick Aybar, however, failed to make contact on an attempted squeeze play and Willits was run down by Red Sox captain Jason Varitek. The ball was knocked loose after 'Tek applied the tag to Willits and Angels skipper Mike Scioscia was irate. Much to his dismay, the umpire ruled (and rightfully so) that 'Tek retained possession of the ball during the tag and lost control of the ball after falling on the ground following the tag.

Crisis averted, Jason Bay hit a ground rule double to right field and was driven in a few plays layer by Jed Lowrie, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 and Red Sox Nation many reasons to celebrate.

The Red Sox and Rays will begin their ALCS series this friday at 8:37 pm ET in Tampa, Fl on TBS.