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Things quickly went from bad to worse for the Rays, down 2-1 in the series, in the first inning, but they were lucky the damage wasn't worse. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins led off with a double to right then moved to third on a long flyout to right. Andy Sonnanstine walked Chase Utley but seemed to get a gift when Ryan Howard bounced one back to the pitcher. Instead of throwing to second to start a possible double play, however, Sonnanstinenoticed Rollins running halfway down the line and opted to get him in a rundown. He chased Rollins toward third then flipped the ball to Evan Longoria for the tag. Rollins slid low and wide in an attempt to avoid it, and third-base umpire Tim Welke called him safe. Fox's replay showed Longoria tagged Rollins before he touched the base, but now the bases were loaded. Rollins promptly scored when Sonnanstine walked Pat Burrell. A big inning seemed imminent. But the next batter, Shane Victorino, bounced to Sonnanstine, who flipped the ball to Dioner Navarro for a forceout at home. Moments later, Pedro Feliz's flyout to B.J. Upton in center ended the threat.
Guess everybody went to bed
With a 91-minute rain delay and a 1:47 a.m. finish, apparently not a lot of folks stayed up to watch Game 3, which drew a record-low television rating.
The broadcast earned a 6.1 national rating and 13 share on Fox, the network said. That means 6.1 percent of people who own TVs watched the game and 13 percent of those watching TV did so. The previous low was an 8.0 in 2006 for Game 1 of the Cardinals-Tigers series.
Game 3 drew a 28.2/49 in Philadelphia and a 21.6/44 in Tampa. Through three games, the World Series is averaging 7.7/14, down 23 percent from last year's 10.0/17 for the Red Sox-Rockies.
All eyes on Andy
With Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine - a former Kent State standout - pitching Game 4, the Water Street Tavern on the campus in Kent, Ohio, held a special watch party.
They planned to serve complimentary hot dogs and popcorn to...