The 2008 baseball season brought a remarkable transformation for the Tampa Bay Rays. After finishing near the bottom of the standings in their first decade, the young team went 97-65 and won the American League East, earning the first postseason berth in franchise history.
Their October journey began against the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series. The Rays won the first two games at Tropicana Field, taking Game 1 by a 6-4 score and Game 2 by 6-2. Suddenly, Tampa Bay was one victory away from advancing.
On October 5, the series moved to Chicago for Game 3. The Rays took an early 1-0 lead, but the White Sox answered with five runs and held on for a 5-3 victory. The loss meant Tampa Bay would need to win Game 4 to keep its season alive.
The next afternoon, October 6, the Rays returned to U.S. Cellular Field. This time, there was no need for a comeback. Tampa Bay scored six runs, while Andy Sonnanstine and the pitching staff held Chicago to two. The 6-2 victory gave the Rays a 3-1 series win and the first postseason series victory in franchise history.
The Rays were moving on. Their improbable 2008 season had officially entered a new chapter.
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