The series lasted seven games with the Rays winning the final game 3-1 to head to their first ever World Series appearance in their franchise's history.

In the first game of the series, Daisuke Matsuzaka won a pitcher's dual against James Shields, leading the Red Sox to a 2 to 0 victory. The win by the Red Sox took home field advantage away from the Rays.

In game two, the Tampa Bay Rays won a nail biter in extra innings by a score of 9-8. The series shifted to Boston, where the Rays would attempt to take back home field advantage.

In game three, the Rays pummeled the Red Sox by the score of 9 to 1, with home runs by Carlos Pena, Rocco Baldelli, B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria. This enabled the Rays to take back home field advantage, which they lost in game one of the series.

In game four, the Rays continued to dominate the Red Sox with an easy 13-4 victory.

In game five, the Rays led 7-0 going into the seventh, and looked to be well on their way to the fall classic. But the Red Sox would storm back with four in the 7th inning, 3 in the eighth, and they would eventually win the game in the ninth by a final score of 8-7. The victory by the Red Sox was the second biggest comeback in MLB playoff history.

In game six the Red Sox battled back once again to win the game 4-2 to shockingly force a game 7 in a series which was thought to be over after game 4.

During the 2008 regular season, the Rays won 10 of their 18 matchups against the Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox are the defending World Series champions, while this is the first appearance in the playoffs for the Tampa Bay Rays.MLB.com: No surprises in ALCS for Rays

• Best of 7 Series, All times are EST
• Game 1 BOS at TB Oct. 10 8:37 pm TBS
  • Final Score: Red Sox 2, Rays 0
• Game 2 BOS at TB Oct. 11 8:07 pm TBS
  • Final Score: Red Sox 8, Rays 9
• Game 3 TB at BOS Oct. 13 4:37 pm TBS
  • Final Score: Red Sox 1, Rays 9
• Game 4 TB at BOS Oct. 14 8:07 pm TBS
  • Final Score: Red Sox 4, Rays 13'
• Game 5* TB at BOS Oct. 16 8:07 pm TBS
  • Final Score: Red Sox 8, Rays 7
• Game 6* BOS at TB Oct. 18 4:37 pm TBS
  • Final Score: Red Sox 4, Rays 2
• Game 7* BOS at TB Oct. 19 8:07 pm TBS
  • Final Score: Red Sox 1, Rays 3

• 1. Akinori Iwamura - 2B
• 2. Jason Bartlett- SS
• 3. Carlos Pena- 1B
• 4. Evan Longoria -3B
• 5. Cliff Floyd- DH
• 6. Dioner Navarro- C
• 7. Gabe Gross- RF
• 8. Eric Hinske- LF
• 9. B.J. Upton- CF

1. Jacoby Ellsbury - CF
2. Dustin Pedroia - 2B
3. David Ortiz - DH
4. Kevin Youkilis - 3B
5. J.D. Drew - RF
6. Jason Bay - LF
7. Mark Kotsay - 1B
8. Jed Lowrie - SS
9. Jason Varitek - C