"With as many huge home runs as third baseman Evan Longoria has hit for the Rays in the past week, and the entire second half of the season, each seems to have a special feel to it.

So when Longoria ripped a three-run homer in the seventh inning Saturday in Game 2 of the American League Division Series to pull Tampa Bay within one run of the Rangers, his teammates pondered the possibilities.

The last time Longoria had hit a three-run blast to bring the Rays within one, he followed up with a historic walkoff homer in the 12th inning Wednesday to lift them to a wild-card-clinching 8-7 victory over the Yankees.

"When Longo hit that big home run for us (Saturday), it's definitely one of those feelings like, 'Here we go again, let's go!' " outfielder Matt Joyce said. "We had the momentum. Now is our chance.""