The lines between what was and wasn't done were small, but the results where huge as Tampa Bay jumped back into the World Series with a 4-2 victory last night at Tropicana Field.
The series now shifts to Philadelphia, where Game 3 will be played tomorrow night at Citizens Bank Park and the Rays will send American League Championship Series MVP Matt Garza against Phillies ageless wonder Jamie Moyer.
Coming into Philly with the series 1-1 is a lot less daunting than coming in 0-2, which Tampa Bay would have been had they lost Game 2.
The Phillies got what they wanted, a split from the two games down here on Florida's Gulf Coast, but the Rays will like their chances up north for the next three games.
After all, Tampa Bay was 1-1 going into Boston for three games and put a hammerlock on the ALCS by winning the first two at Fenway Park.
"We just had a couple of opportunities and took advantage of them," Rays centerfielder B.J. Upton said. "There is no pressure on us. I don't think anyone expected us to be here. We believe in ourselves and will play our game regardless."
The Rays got their first lead of the World Series early when Akinori Iwamura walked, and Myers yielded a single to Upton. Both advanced a base when Jayson Werth failed to pick up Upton's ball cleanly.
They scored two runs on groundouts, and the Rays wound up scoring two more - more than they would need.
Again, Shields, who conceded that he would be a little more anxious about his first start in a World Series than a normal regular-season start, wasn't lights-out.
He scattered seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, but recorded every big out when he needed.
The Phillies threatened in several innings, but each time Shields ended up leaving them at least 90 feet from home plate.
"As far as my game, I thought I pitched pretty well," Shields said. "They did a good job of battling and taking pitches. A lot of teams don't take pitches on me because I'm known as a strike thrower.
