LONGORIA LEADS RAYS TO VICTORY

Evan Longoria hit two home runs and James Shields pitched into the seventh inning as the Tampa Bay Rays notched their first ever postseason victory with a 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS. Longoria's second dinger put the Rays ahead 4-3, a lead they would not give up. Longoria also contributed to a two-run fifth for the Rays by singling home Willie Aybar, which was followed up by a run scoring single by Carl Crawford.

White Sox starting pitcher Javier Vazquez lasted only 4 1/3 innings, giving up six earned runs on eight hits. He did strike out 6, but nothing else went right during the short outing.

Shields only mistake was a three run homer to Dwayne Wise in the third inning.

After loading the bases with one out in the top half of the seventh, Shields was relieved by hard-throwing right-hander Greg Balfour, who conveniently struck out Juan Uribe and Orlando Cabrera to end the threat. Cabrera, who had words for Balfour after the first pitch of the at-bat, couldn't catch up to a 90-plus mph fastball. Balfour was ecstatic coming off the mound and pointed at Cabrera, gesturing him to sit down.

Dan Wheeler closed it out for the Rays, depsite giving up a home run to Konerko after an 11-pitch at bat.

Longoria became only the second player ever to hit two home runs in his first two postseason plate appearances. The last man to do it was Gary Gaetti for the Minnesota Twins in 1987.

Shawn Marosek