Tampa Bay Rays (8-7) at Philadelphia Phillies (10-3), 8:37 p.m.
Sports Network | October 29, 2008
(Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays will try once again to complete Game 5 of the World Series this evening at Citizens Bank Park.
This game was started on Monday, but after the Rays rallied to even the game, 2-2, in the sixth inning, the tarp was put on the field. A short time later, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced the game would be suspended until there are proper playing conditions.
They had hoped to get the game in on Tuesday, but cold, rainy conditions caused the game to be moved until 8:37 p.m. (et) on Wednesday. The weather is expected to be cold on Wednesday evening, with only a slight chance of precipitation.
The Phillies are up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. A win would not only give the Phillies just their second-ever title and first since 1980, but it would also give the City of Brotherly Love its first championship of any kind since 1983, when the 76ers beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA championship.
There has never been a rain-shortened game in the history of the World Series.
Shane Victorino's two-run single in the first frame provided Philadelphia with the lead on a wet night with temperatures diving through the 40s, but instead of closing it out Monday the Phillies find themselves in a dogfight and in a waiting pattern.
The game will resume from the point where it left off, with the Phillies coming to bat in the bottom of the sixth. Two years ago, MLB changed its rules on suspended games, moving to continue play rather than replay the entire game in the case of a tied contest.
Selig said if the Phillies were ahead, he would not have let them win a rain- shortened game.
The Rays checked out of their hotel earlier Monday and scrambled before finding a hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, which is about 30 minutes south of the stadium.
B.J. Upton reached first on an infield hit with two outs in the sixth when shortstop Jimmy Rollins couldn't handle the wet ball. Upton then stole second scampering through the mud and puddles before Carlos Pena lined a single to left- center field. The throw home was late.
Pena, who had been held without a hit in the first four games, went to second on a passed ball, but Evan Longoria flied out to center before the tarp came on the field. Pena had two hits with an RBI and a run scored.
There have been 42 teams that have taken a 3-1 World Series lead, 36 of them have gone on to win a title. However, there have been six teams to rally from that deficit, the last being Kansas City in 1985 when the Royals beat St. Louis.
Pena and Longoria didn't have a hit in their first 31 at-bats combined in this series, but went 3-for-6 Monday.
Cole Hamels, who came into the game with a 4-0 record this postseason, was on the mound through the sixth inning, hoping to help the Phillies break a long championship drought in Philadelphia.
The Phillies have Hamels leading off the bottom of the sixth, but are expected to pinch-hit for him.
Lefty Scott Kazmir, who lost to Hamels in Game 1, started for the Rays, but was lifted after allowing four hits and the two runs in four-plus innings. He had six walks and five strikeouts.
After the game was suspended, Maddon said he would not use starters James Shields or Matt Garza in possible relief roles for Game 5.
The grounds crew worked feverishly a few times to spread dirt on the mound and infield to help.
Jayson Werth walked with one out in the first inning and Chase Utley was hit by a pitch. Ryan Howard, who homered twice and had five RBI in Philadelphia's 10-2 win Sunday, then struck out. Pat Burrell walked before Victorino lined a 2-1 pitch to left field. Pedro Feliz then singled to left, but Kazmir escaped the bases-loaded jam by getting Carlos Ruiz to fly out.
The 13 RBI by Victorino in this postseason set a Phillies record.
Pena and Longoria, who had been held to 0-for-29 through four games of this series, combined to finally put Tampa Bay on the board in the fourth. Pena doubled high off the wall in right field with one out in the fourth, and Longoria followed with a ground single to left-center field, past a diving Rollins.
The Phillies wasted a bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth, as Utley grounded out to end the inning.
Rollins then fought the wind and rain in the fifth, but failed to catch Rocco Baldelli's popup. Jason Bartlett then grounded into a double play, and Kazmir fanned to end the frame.
Kazmir walked the first two batters he faced in the fifth before Balfour came on to retire the next three hitters. That put the Phillies 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position for the contest and 8-for-55 for the series.
The Phillies also have a chance to become the first team since the 1999 Yankees to finish a postseason undefeated at home. Philadelphia is 6-0 as the host in these playoffs.
Tampa and the 1991 Atlanta Braves are the only teams to reach the World Series a year after finishing with the worst record in the majors.
Game 6 of this series, if necessary, will shift back to Tropicana Field on Wednesday.
