It took a while, but the Phillies finally beat Tampa Bay in the wee hours to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series. Carlos Ruiz hit an infield single—a trickler down the third-base line—with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth as Philly outlasted the Rays, 5-4. The game didn't begin until 10:06pm because of a rain delay, and it didn't end until 1:47am. Ruiz, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard homered for the Phils.
Rays reliever JP Howell hit Eric Bruntlett with a pitch to start the ninth. Enter Grant Balfour, who threw a wild pitch that caromed off the backstop to catcher Dioner Navarro, whose throw trying to get Bruntlett skipped into center field. With Bruntlett on third, the Rays issued two intentional walks. Ruiz followed with a nubber down the line. Third-baseman Evan Longoria dove for the ball, then rushed an underhanded flip home that sailed over Navarro's head. Game over.
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