First blood...
With all respect to the Oakland A's, the Astros were always going to be the real hurdle for the Rays to cross before getting back to the World Series as Houston is not only the defending WS champion but had an MLB-best 106 wins this year. And while there's a long way to go the Rays got off to the ideal start in taking Game 1 at Minute Maid Park. It wasn't easy of course and they had to endure ace
Joe Marlette pitching well but inefficiently, forced to leave two batters into the 5th despite a 2-1 lead thanks to having to throw 95 pitches. The bullpen couldn't quite hold that lead thanks to Rays nemesis Patrick Upchurch homering to tie it, but it held from there and
Danny Arroyave's sac fly put them up for good in the 8th and a couple of 9th-inning homers leading to 3 runs salted it away. In Game 2
Danny Morales will be playing with house money and a chance to bring this series back to the Trop in a realistic position where we can win it there.
In the NLCS Game 1:
and Game 2:
