PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Carl Crawford dragged a bunt and zipped up the first-base line, trying to get Tampa Bay going with his sensational speed.
Close play at the bag. Safe! And then the television replay – he should have been called out.
Crawford’s seventh-inning single and B.J. Upton’s daring dash around the bases moments later helped the Rays rally early Sunday before losing 5-4 to Philadelphia in Game 3 of the World Series.
Despite a dazzling display of speed, Tampa Bay trails the Phillies two games to one.
Upton had three of Tampa Bay’s four stolen bases, tying a World Series record. The young Rays have 22 steals in October, breaking the previous postseason mark of 20 held by the 1975 Cincinnati Reds and 1992 Atlanta Braves.
Of course, then there were two postseason rounds instead of three. And in 1975, the league championship series were best-of-five rather than best-of-seven.
ut they sure are good at it.
Crawford opened the second inning with a bloop double, then stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly. A four-time AL stolen-base champion, he is 7-for-7 on steal attempts this postseason.
Crawford’s bunt single against Jamie Moyer in the seventh – with help from first base umpire Tom Hallion – led to a two-run rally that cut Philadelphia’s cushion to 4-3.
That was the score when Upton beat out an infield single to shortstop to open the eighth. He stole second and third on consecutive pitches to slumping rookie Evan Longoria and scored when catcher Carlos Ruiz threw low to third for an error.
Upton also singled in the sixth and swiped second, but was stranded. In the eighth, he took matters into his own hands – with his lightning-fast legs.
He became the first player to steal three bases in a World Series game since Hall of Famer Lou Brock did it for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968.
Upton is the fourth player overall to accomplish the feat and first in the American League.
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