At 3:07 p.m. in Fenway Park, fierce division rivals in the American League East, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will begin their ALDS series. TBS will have the coverage, but those who are at work can live stream the game here. Red Sox fans can listen to the game on 93.7 WEEI, while Rays fans can hear the action on 620 WDAE.
The Red Sox enter the 2013 postseason having thoroughly dominated MLB from start to finish, a remarkable feat following the unmitigated disaster that was the BoSox the previous two seasons.
They shed lots of personnel, as well as toxic manager Bobby Valentine, and the new atmosphere bred phenomenal results. "This was part of the mindset at the end of last year, a strong desire to rewrite what took place," new manager John Farrell said.
"Guys in here love playing baseball," said power-hitting outfielder Jonny Gomes, who has more than a few clutch home runs for the Sox. "It's a bunch of baseball junkies, so I'm sure they'll be happy to strap on their cleats."
Working in their favor as well is the absence of Rays ace David Price in Game 1; manager Joe Maddon had to burn Price in the one-game playoff prior to the wildcard game. Matt Moore will toe the rubber for Tampa Bay this afternoon. Even without Price, Maddon believes Tampa's hard road has hardened them for this war.
"It's quite an accomplishment," Maddon said. "And, moving forward, I want to believe it's going to create some kind of different form of momentum going into this series because we've been playing. We've been playing under duress and we're not tired."
Opposing Moore will be Jon Lester, who has regained the trust of his team and fan base after a wretched 2012. "To be named Game 1 starter, especially after last year," Lester said, "big honor, obviously, very excited."
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