ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It's definitely October.

But to the Tampa Bay Rays, it might as well be June.

The Rays, who specialized in walkoff wins this season -- they led the majors with 11 of them -- pulled off another one Saturday as the capper to an all-out slugfest with the Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field. There were seven lead changes, the momentum swung back and forth, the intensity level rose and fell in mind-numbing fashion, extra innings (and 5 hours and 27 minutes) were needed to decide the outcome . . . but in the end, a sacrifice fly by B.J. Upton delivered the winning run as the Rays pulled out a dramatic 9-8 victory.

"We've been in those kinds of games often this year," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "To win a game like that, under these circumstances after [losing Game One on Friday, and knowing a loss would put them down 2-0 with the next three games in Boston] is very special for this group and for the organization."

"It's one of those games that nobody deserved to lose," said Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon. "It was a hard-fought battle by both clubs and we came out on the short end of the stick."

Both starting pitchers -- the Sox' Josh Beckett and the Rays' Scott Kazmir -- couldn't keep the ball in the park and eventually had to ask their respective bullpens to clean up the mess. But the offensive onslaught from both clubs was very impressive, despite the struggles of the starting pitchers.

The teams combined for seven home runs to set a new ALCS record. Dustin Pedroia hit a pair of solo homers -- his first career two-homer game -- and teammates Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay contributed one each for Boston. The Rays also knocked the ball around as Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Cliff Floyd posted the roundtrippers for Tampa.

The Rays have proved time and again this season that they can handle any situation. After their Game One loss on Friday, the Sox' David Ortiz said he thought the postseason pressure was affecting Tampa Bay. Maddon actually agreed when asked about the slugger's comments prior to Game Two. But the Rays changed Ortiz' mind in Game Two.

"That's pretty much how they play [during the regular season]," said Ortiz. "It was a good game. We hit well and we pitched well. They hit the same way and have a good offensive team and there's not much you can do about it."

Even though the possibility of winning two games here would have been key for the Red Sox, they felt the split worked, too.

"I feel like we did what we needed to do here," said Papelbon. "Obviously we would have loved to win the first two games, but you can't be greedy."

Now the series shifts back to Fenway Park for Game Three on Monday afternoon. The Rays players said before the series began that they felt good about the fact they didn't have to face Red Sox ace Jon Lester at Tropicana Field because he has the ability to win anywhere at anytime.

The southpaw has completely dominated opponents at home this season, and his outing will come at a critical juncture of this series.

With their offensive output against an obviously-struggling Beckett last night, Tampa Bay feels it can do some damage. Playing at Fenway will be a huge obstacle for the Rays as the Rays send Matt Garza to the mound. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA lifetime against Boston in six starts.

The atmosphere at The Trop in the first two games of this series was pretty intense. But the Red Sox realize once they get home to Fenway, it's going to be an entirely different ballgame -- literally.

"Obviously we're excited to get to Fenway," said Pedroia. "It's going to be great to have our fans on our side. It's 1-1 and we have to keep grinding it out. That's why it's the best-of-seven."

Yes, it is October. And judging by the two games here, it's only going to get better.

Even if, for the Rays, it felt like summertime on Saturday night.