Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays is congratulated after hitting a three run home run against the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON—The Tampa Bay Rays steamrolled the Boston Red Sox 9-1 on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.
The Rays hammered two three-run homers, one in the third inning by center fielder B.J. Upton and another in the eighth by right fielder Rocco Baldelli.
Boston scored its one run in the bottom of the seventh when a sacrifice fly by center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury drove in catcher Jason Varitek.
Boston pitcher Jon Lester struggled against the Tampa Bay lineup, throwing 96 pitches in under six innings and giving up five runs.
