Phillies, Rays are 1 game away from World Series (AP)
35 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES - The Philadelphia Phillies meet the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight, with the Phils and the Tampa Bay Rays just one game away from a date in the World Series. The Rays and Boston Red Sox resume their series tomorrow.
Cole Hamels takes a shot at wrapping things up for Philadelphia while Chad Billingsley is scheduled to start for Los Angeles.
Philadelphia has a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and one win in the next three games will send them to the Fall Classic.
The task for the Dodgers is to sweep the next three in order to avoid the end of their season.
Last night, Tampa Bay's explosive offense put on another power display at Fenway Park and has the Rays poised to advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
Willy Aybar hit one of three home runs and had five RBIs in a 13-4 win over Boston. The Rays unleashed a 14-hit attack that featured seven extra base hits. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning. It was the fifth for Longoria in the postseason, setting a rookie record. Carl Crawford went 5-for-5 with two RBIs in the Rays 14-hit attack.
Tampa Bay has hit 10 home runs in the last three games.
The Red Sox have given up 31 runs in three straight losses. Boston is facing a 3-1 deficit in the ALCS for the second straight year. They were able to overcome it last year against Cleveland and go on to win the World Series.
Game 5 is set for Thursday night in Boston.