Unbelievable

In the middle of the game TBS's cameras caught a Rays fan in Fenway giving the crowd the shush sign. At that moment Tampa was up 7-0 behind its ace Scott Kazmir and was well, well on its way to clinching in five, much as the Phillies did the day before. Who can blame the guy for feeling good about himself and his team, boisterous and boastful?

Except someone forgot to give him a history lesson.

The team that can score off Mariano Rivera while down three games to none can surely score off Grant Balfour. The team that can come back from a three games to one deficit to a scrappy Indians squad in 2007 can surely brush aside that "scrappy" label when applied to another up-and-comer. And the team that plays the best version of modern baseball I've ever seen can surely come back from a seven-run deficit. Right?

I just didn't expect it.

Who did?

Four runs in the 7th, three more in the 8th, with the first and last of it coming with two outs -- this in front of a crowd of 38,437, which is 105.2% capacity. And wouldn't you know, the rally in the 9th started with two outs, culminating in the game-winning run. 8-7 Red Sox. The biggest comeback in postseason history in 79 years, folks.

The fire gods rejoice!

Chip Caray asked a poignant question: as devastating as the Game 2 loss was for the Red Sox, could this loss be equally devastating for the Rays? I know this whole "momentum" business doesn't amount to much, but it's interesting to ponder, is it not? We all know, of course, what happened in the two contests after Game 2.

A screenshot from our friends over at D-Rays Bay.

Via the same website:


Comment of the day: Kill a Sox fan...it'll make you feel better.

POSTSCRIPT: In Dayton We Trust neither encourages nor condones the killing of Red Sox fans.

UPDATE: Just noticed Joe Posnanski also titled his postgame blog post "Unbelievable." And beat me to it...