[jg2977]

FRANCESA: Alright, Dog, this wasn’t a game. Let’s not kid ourselves. This was over in the second inning. Boston scores thirteen runs in the second inning. Thirteen. That’s not postseason baseball, that’s batting practice at Fenway.
RUSSO: Mike, stop it right there — the game was OVER before I finished my hot dog! I mean OVER! Thirteen runs in an inning? In an elimination game? I don’t care who you are, you’re not coming back from that. You’re not climbing Everest in flip-flops!
FRANCESA: Tampa Bay’s pitching completely collapsed. Flores couldn’t get anybody out, Tamez comes in and gives up five runs without recording an out, and suddenly you’re down by double digits. You’re the best team in baseball, 108 wins, and you’re getting embarrassed on the road.
RUSSO: Embarrassed is the word! This is the best record in the sport and they’re running pitchers out there like it’s spring training in St. Pete! Meanwhile Boston’s swinging like it’s the Home Run Derby — Petro, Galindo, Zboray, Armendariz, Croke — everybody’s got a hit, everybody’s got extra bases!
FRANCESA: Matt Croke set the tone. Four runs scored, three hits, stole a base. That lineup top to bottom was relentless. Petro hits the three-run homer in the middle of the inning — that’s when you shut the TV off if you’re Tampa.
RUSSO: And Fenway’s going nuts! You’ve got triples bouncing all over the place, two Armendariz home runs, Galindo hitting missiles — this looked like the ’27 Yankees out there, Mike! You’re just waiting for the mercy rule!
FRANCESA: Let’s be clear: Tampa’s offense wasn’t awful. They scored nine runs, fourteen hits. But the game was decided before the Rays even got back to the dugout in the second inning.
RUSSO: Exactly! This wasn’t “oh, Tampa didn’t show up.” They showed up — Boston just steamrolled them! You spot a team thirteen in one inning, you’re DONE. That’s a white flag inning.
FRANCESA: So now we’ve got a Game 5. Saturday. Back in Tampa. Winner take all.
RUSSO: And now ALL the pressure is on the Rays! Boston’s playing loose, Mike! Boston’s thinking, we already embarrassed you once. Tampa’s thinking, how did we let this get to five?
FRANCESA: Momentum swings matter. And Boston’s got it tonight. No question.
RUSSO: Thirteen runs, Mike. Thirteen! In the SECOND inning! I’ve been watching baseball my whole life — you don’t see that in October!
FRANCESA: Alright, Dog, we’ll take a break. When we come back — is Tampa Bay in trouble, or does the best team in baseball finally remind everyone why they won 108 games?