Monday, Oct. 13, 2008

Rays Extra: Dustin's big night

Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia had the first two-home run game of his career Saturday during Game 2 of the ALCS.

It was the 11th time a Red Sox hit two home runs in a postseason game, the first since Manny Ramirez did it in Game 3 of the 2005 ALDS against the White Sox. Pedroia was only the second Red Sox to homer twice in an ALCS. Johnny Damon did it in Game 7 of the 2004 championship series against the Yankees.

HE SAID IT

"I really believe that our bullpen began to turn last year the day Dan Wheeler came through our doors."

Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey on the deal with Houston at the 2007 trade deadline that brought Wheeler to Tampa Bay in exchange for Ty Wigginton.

STAT OF THE DAY

42, 215: Age of Boston reliever Mike Timlin in years and days, which made him the oldest pitcher to take the loss in an American League Championship Series. Timlin was the Game 2 loser.

TODAY'S GAME

RAYS AT RED SOX

4:37 p.m., TBS, 1250-AM

Jon Lester squares off against Matt Garza this afternoon at Fenway Park in Game 3 of the ALCS.

Lester has not allowed an earned run in 14 innings over his two starts against the Angels in the ALDS.

The left-hander has a postseason ERA of 0.77, which ranks him second all-time in Boston history among pitchers with at least 20 postseason innings.

Lester is 4-0 with 3.38 ERA in seven career starts against the Rays. He won all three of his starts against the Rays this season, allowing an earned run or less in each.

Garza dropped his lone postseason start, losing to the White Sox in Game 3 of the ALDS.

The right-handers in the White Sox lineup were 1-for-15 against Garza that night, while the lefties were 6-for-9 with three doubles and three walks.

The good news is Garza is 7-4 in 15 starts against AL East foes, including 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA against the Red Sox. Garza had a 2.54 ERA in 15 starts against the AL East this season. Only Lester had a lower ERA (2.48) against the AL East.

ALCS schedule

RAYS VS. RED SOX

Game 1

Boston 2, Tampa Bay 0

Game 2

Tampa Bay 9, Boston 8, 11 innings

Game 3, Today

Tampa Bay (Garza 11-9) at Boston (Lester 16-6), 4:37 p.m.

Game 4, Tuesday

Tampa Bay (Sonnanstine 13-9) at Boston (Wakefield 10-11), 8:07 p.m.

Game 5, Thursday

Tampa Bay at Boston, 8:07 p.m., if necessary

Game 6, Saturday

Boston at Tampa Bay, 4:37 p.m., if necessary

Game 7, Oct. 19

Boston at Tampa Bay, 8:07 p.m., if necessary

Games on TBS, 1250-AM