Oops, he did it again...
Joe Stack is fast becoming a legend in Tampa Bay and around the country as for the second time in four games the rookie came off the bench and slugged a game-winning 2-run homer, this one just inside the RF foul pole and giving the Rays a 6-5 win over the Yankees and a berth in the ALCS. While not a walk-off since it was on the road this one might have even been more dramatic as the Yankees held a 5-4 lead and were one out away from sending the series back to St. Pete for a deciding Game 5. It was quite the turnaround for the Rays, who fell behind 4-0 in the first when
Chris Ferguson gave up four consecutive RBI singles. They fought back to tie it up (without the benefit of homers!) but New York took the lead back.
Ethan McElvain was impressive with 3 innings of shutout relief after starting all season and Mike Moore had a 1-2-3 9th with 2 whiffs to close it out when he wasn't even expecting to pitch. So the threepeat hopes remain alive.
And their ALCS opponent has been determined:
It'll be the Rangers heading to the Trop to open the ALCS in a few days and figuring large in today's Texas win was former Rays CF Chris Gutierrez. Meanwhile Memphis saw their 103-win season come to an ignominious end as they were swept by the Cubs, who finished 8 games behind them in the regular season. Chicago awaits the Mets-Dodgers winner in what will be a big market NLCS.