Originally published Friday, October 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM
PrintConfident Rays roll in postseason debut
Cool and calm, or so it seemed. Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays appeared perfectly at home in the playoffs with a Game 1 victory over...
The Associated Press
PREV
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cool and calm, or so it seemed.
Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays appeared perfectly at home in the playoffs with a Game 1 victory over Chicago. The rookie said looks can be deceiving, though.
"I was nervous," he said. "I think if you're not nervous in this situation, you're really not soaking in the moment."
The All-Star third baseman homered in his first two at-bats, and the surprising AL East champions were a big hit in their postseason debut, beating the White Sox 6-4 Thursday in their AL playoff opener.
"He's always got this way about him. He's not going to be overwhelmed by the situation. And that speaks beyond his skill level," manager Joe Maddon said. "Obviously, his skills are very good ... and he likes these moments in a non-cocky way."
After 10 seasons as baseball's doormat, the Rays took the division with the best home record (57-24) in the majors. A lack of postseason experience was not a factor as they kept winning at Tropicana Field behind James Shields' effective start and Grant Balfour's testy, bases-loaded escape in the seventh inning.
Game 2 is today, when Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir (12-8) faces Mark Buehrle (15-12).
"We want to win both of them now. We have such an advantage at home," Longoria said.
Chicago took a 3-1 lead on Dewayne Wise's three-run homer in the third inning. But Javier Vazquez, who has a history of flopping in big games, could not hold it.
Longoria became the second player to homer in his first two postseason at-bats, joining one of his former minor-league hitting coaches, Gary Gaetti, who did it with the Minnesota Twins in 1987.
Longoria homered on his first postseason pitch, a 421-foot leadoff drive in the second. He put Tampa Bay ahead 4-3 with another solo shot in the third, a 430-foot homer off one of the infamous catwalks that support the roof at Tropicana.
"I was just looking for a pitch out over the plate I could hit," he said.
Longoria also had an RBI single and finished 3 for 3 with three RBI.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Print
Digg
Newsvine
UPDATE - 7:15 PM
Mariners' Felix Hernandez has fun in spring debut, after scary start
UPDATE - 8:27 PM
Catcher Gregg Zaun retires after 16 seasons
Mariners' Ackley adjusting at second base
Carlos Beltran singles in first spring at-bat | Baseball
Sideline Chatter: And you thought there wasn't a Hornets in baseball
911 audio: Caseworker reports Josh Powell has locked children inside his home
911 audio: Caseworker reports Josh Powell's house on fire with children inside
911 audio: Sister of Josh Powell reports disturbing emails
Chuck Cox reacts to Powell home fire, death of his grandsons
Sheriff's update: Josh Powell spread gasoline in home fire, sent goodbye emails
Don Bateman, inventor of Ground Proximity Warning System
Pierce County sheriff reacts to Powell home fire
Price of Protection: A victim speaks out
Price of Protection: Inside the Special Commitment Center
Open Houses
|
Find all open houses.
|
nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
472 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming 360
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color 305
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising 243
- Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement 231
- Oregon live game thread 155
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details 147
- Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game 140
- AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule 131
- Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise' 103
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
