[jg2977]

ALCS
Tampa Bay Rays at Anaheim Angels
October 15, 1938 — Angel Stadium of Anaheim

There are postseason games that unfold according to expectation. And then there are those that wait — patiently, almost politely — before revealing their true nature in the final moments.
Game One of this League Championship Series belonged to the latter.
For seven and a half innings, the afternoon seemed firmly in Tampa Bay’s possession. Behind the composed and efficient work of Justin Truelove, and buoyed by an early offensive burst, the Rays built a 5–0 lead that felt substantial, if not decisive.
Rod Francia’s 434-foot home run in the second inning set the tone. Chris Eckert, whose speed and daring were on full display, tripled twice — tying a Tampa Bay postseason record — and repeatedly pressured Anaheim’s defense. Mark McDonald reached base, stole at will, and scored twice. By the fifth inning, the Rays appeared in command, their advantage extended to five runs.
Yet October has a way of withholding certainty.
Danny Cespedes labored but endured for Anaheim, keeping the margin from growing insurmountable. And gradually, almost imperceptibly, the Angels began to stir.
In the eighth inning, a triple by Ricky Resendez ignited the first genuine unease in the Tampa Bay dugout. Akiyuki Amano followed with a run-scoring double, trimming the deficit to three. The crowd — 34,853 strong under a mild Southern California sky — sensed the shift.
Still, the Rays carried a 5–2 lead into the ninth.
Jonathan Collings, the 1931 Cy Young Award winner, was summoned to secure the final three outs. His résumé suggested reliability. The inning suggested something else.
Corey Wright singled. Carlos Guzman tripled sharply into the gap, scoring Wright and bringing the tying run closer to the plate. A walk, a fielder’s choice, and then a defensive miscue extended the inning further. The lead, once comfortable, had narrowed to a single run.
And then came Dave Johnston.
Already 2-for-4 on the afternoon with a double, Johnston stepped in with two outs and two men aboard. Collings delivered a sinker. Johnston did not miss.
The ball traveled 411 feet into the right-field seats — a clean, unambiguous arc that required no interpretation. A three-run home run. A walk-off. And with one swing, a 7–5 Anaheim victory.
It was a game defined not merely by statistics — though Johnston’s three hits and three runs batted in will endure in the box score — but by timing. By resilience. By the fragile nature of October leads.
The Angels, once quiet, now lead this series one game to none.
And the Rays, who controlled nearly every measurable aspect of the afternoon, are left to contemplate the only measure that ultimately matters.
The final one.