In front...
Walt Khattak was our staff ace in the first half of the season but after a tough second half which saw him pitch to an ERA over 5 and suffer a couple of abdominal strains we really didn't know what to expect tonight. But he allayed all our fears as he went out and threw 5 1/3 shutout innings and got some support from another guy who had some issues this year in 5th starter Bryce Eldridge who went 1 2/3 scoreless in relief. Randy Rodriguez made it interesting again (and we got a scouting report yesterday saying he lost a mile or two off his fastball) by giving up a 2-out 9th-inning double to put the tying runs in scoring position, but he whiffed Max Viera to end the game and put the Rays one win away from the ALCS. Taj Bradley, who was also up and down this year, will try to be up to the task tomorrow in Game 4.
Meanwhile we could be headed for unfinished business with our division rival Toronto:
