Rays vs. Rangers: Carlos Pena Keeps Tampa Bay's Playoff Hopes Alive

Filed under: Rangers, Rays, MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Down to their last five outs of the season, the Rays will live to play one more day after scoring twice in the eighth to take the lead, then adding three runs in the ninth for a 6-3 win that extends their American League Division Series with the Rangers.

Texas had a 2-1 lead before an RBI single by Carlos Pena tied the game. Later in the eighth, John Jaso delivered a tie-breaking single and in the ninth Carl Crawford and Pena both homered to seal it.

Turning point: Rangers manager Ron Washington decided to mix and match his pitchers in the eighth inning while holding a one-run lead, but it failed miserably. Darren Oliver, Darren O'Day and Neftali Feliz combined to give up three hits -- a double by Dan Johnson setting up the RBI hits by Pena and Jaso -- and two runs. Feliz and Dustin Nippert gave up the ninth-inning homers.

Stud: Pena, who was benched in Game 2 against a lefty, singled home the tying run in the eighth off a lefty, then hit a two-run bomb in the ninth to keep the Rays on life support.

Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi Ali Larter Alice Dodd Alicia Keys