Backs to the wall...
The Rays have no more margin for error as they were pounded 12-3 by Cincinnati in Game 4 and trail 1-3 in the World Series. Things got off to a promising start on homers from
Junior Caminero and
Heston Kjerstad which gave them a 3-1 lead in the top of the 2nd, but
Taj Bradley finished off a nightmare postseason by giving up 4 runs by the 2nd and was given an early hook.
Ryan Pepiot, so good in his previous appearances, then gave up a pair of solo homers in the 3rd as the game got away from the Rays. And after starting as shakily as Bradley, Cincinnati's Tajuan Walker settled in to shut down Tampa Bay bats thereafter and that was that. Now on tap is a rematch of the epic Game 1 pitchers' duel between
Shane McClanahan and Max Fried, and the Rays will have to hope they get the edge this time as that game could have been a "sliding doors" type moment had they pulled it out.