Technical difficulties for ALCS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - October 18, 2008 The game started at 8:08 p.m., but the broadcast didn't begin until 8:28 p.m., when Carlos Pena, the seventh batter of the game, walked in the bottom of the first. TBS then showed a replay of a home run by B.J. Upton, the previous batter, that put the Rays ahead 1-0.

TBS had experienced router failure in Atlanta, which caused transmission problems, Rays spokesman Dave Haller said. TBS spokesman Jeff Pomeroy didn't immediately return a telephone call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

In place of the game, TBS had televised an episode of "The Steve Harvey Show." A crawl on the screen ran repeatedly, saying: "We are experiencing technical difficulties."

Tampa Bay, seeking its first World Series appearance, led the best-of-seven series 3-1 after wasting a 7-0, seventh-inning lead in Game 5 and losing 8-7 to the defending champion Red Sox.