Papelbon Blows Save, Longoria Goes Yard Within Minutes: Tampa Bay In, Boston Out of the Playoffs
By Jason Lisk
Still, the Rays were in the top of the 12th, with Yankees having runners on the corners, while the Red Sox went to the bottom of the 9th with a one run lead. It still looked like Boston would, at worst, get a playoff. Papelbon got the first two outs (while the Rays got out of the top of the inning without giving up a run) then the Orioles got back to back doubles to tie it, followed by Robert Andino’s game winning single.
Three minutes later, Evan Longoria, who earlier hit a three run homer to help the rally, went ahead and cut Boston’s still fresh wound wide open with a dramatic home run inside the left field foul pole to send Tampa Bay to the playoffs. Stunning.
[photo via Getty]