The Bulldogs are in the national spotlight again, and again it's for baseball and the season hasn't even begun.
Former Bulldog right-hander Matt Garza was named the ALCS MVP as he led the Tampa Devil Rays past the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 and into the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Garza struggled in his first start of the postseason against the Chicago White Sox, going six innings giving up 5 runs on seven hits and taking the loss in the Rays' ONLY loss of the division series. He would take the ball in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Red Sox and showed why Tampa Bay wanted to bring him over in a trade from Minnesota. Garza would prove them wise and he shut down Boston, allowing just one run in six plus innings in a 9-1 win.
In the biggest game in his young career, he would get the ball again in the final and decisive Game 7 in Tampa Bay. After giving up a 1st inning home run, he would give up just one more hit in seven strong innings, striking out nine Red Sox batters while walking just three, throwing a grand total of 118 pitches on Sunday night.
Rays' manager Joe Maddon on Garza: “He was a stallion tonight. He did everything he could, and I’m so proud of him and what he’s done this year and how far he’s come.”
Could a former player for those underdog Bulldogs, bring a World Series championship home to yet another underdog? We'll see...
