Tampa’s offense came alive in the late innings Saturday to avoid a sweep in a 6-3 win, then kept the bats going with 12 hits on Sunday, including two apiece from Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton, who both drove in a run.
In the four instances when a 2-0 lead in the division series was pushed to a decisive tilt, the winner of Games 3 and 4 advanced to the league championship series, though only 2001 Yankees accomplished the feat after losing the first two at home.
Davis (1-0) lasted five-plus innings and was charged with two runs on seven hits and three walks to go with seven strikeouts, while four Rays relievers combined to hurl four one-hit innings to seal the win.
Tommy Hunter (0-1) was on the opposite end of the decision, allowing three runs — two earned — on six hits with seven strikeouts for Texas, which has never won a postseason series and fell to 0-6 all-time in playoff home games.
Game 5 is set for Tuesday at Tropicana Field with Tampa’s David Price slated to pitch opposite fellow left-handed ace Cliff Lee in a Game 1 rematch.