MLB / Nick Shiambouros / 26 October 2008 / Leave a comment

Nick Shiambouros believes the Rays will rally to bounce back following fatal errors in the ninth...

The Philadelphia Phillies won game 3 of the World Series 5-4 to take a 2-1 lead but it was a catalogue of throwing errors by Tampa that gifted the game to them. The game was tied at 4-4 going in to the bottom of the ninth but after a hit batsman and a couple of throwing errors the winning run was driven in on a short ground ball.

Philadelphia struck early in the first to take a one run lead and Tampa answered right back in the second to tie the game but the Phillies led the game in the sixth 4-1 with good hitting from Utley, Howard and Ruiz. The Rays rallied to tie the game with runs in the seventh and eight but it was that fatal ninth that cost them dearly.

Veteran Jamie Moyer had a great night for the Phillies holding the Rays to just three runs for six innings with accurate and controlled pitching.

Matt Garza had a very shaky start, losing his composure early and it cost the Rays dearly. Overall, as expected this game could have gone either way so Tampa are still very much in this series.

The game finished just before 2am after a rain delay and game four is scheduled to start at 8pm Sunday night.

Andy Sonnastine will start for the Rays in another must win game and he is 2-0 in the postseason. He has a very good all around game with a good off speed pitch and an accurate fast ball.

The Phillies start Joe Blanton who has a losing record of 9-12 in the regular season. Blanton will probably last six innings and his pitch count could be a problem for him as his accuracy could come in to question.

Cole Hamels is due to start game five for Philadelphia and they will be favoured to win because of his sensational post season form. Tampa will be around [1.7] for the win and I think they can get it done because Blanton is in very good form. It promises to be another thrilling encounter and it is up to the Rays to bounce back from this narrow loss.