Moyer, who became the second-oldest pitcher to start a World Series game at 24 days short of his 46th birthday, got through the first four innings allowing only an opposite-field bloop double that could have been caught. There also were harmless singles in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Phillies got to Garza despite his gaudy numbers entering the game.

With Jimmy Rollins playing igniter — another marked change from the first two games — Garza was flustered early. Rollins' hard single started the bottom of the first, Jayson Werth walked, and during Chase Utley's at-bat, both runners moved up on a key wild pitch.

The Phils then failed three more times with runners in scoring position (Ruiz's game-winning hit brought the dismal numbers to 2-for-33), but at least Utley's ground out scored a run.

And then the Phillies started playing longball. Ruiz belted a two-out homer in the second. Leading off the sixth, Utley put a 2-1 fastball into the right-field seats for his second of the World Series. And right behind Utley came Ryan Howard's towering shot to right for the 14th back-to-back homers in series history.

Anybody who has watched even a little bit of Rays baseball in their miracle season knows they find ways to win in every way imaginable, especially late in games. At least they found ways to tie Game 3 — getting three late runs against Moyer and the Phillies bullpen with none scoring on hits.

Two seventh-inning groundouts scored Crawford (who reached on a blown call by first-base umpire Tom Hallion) and Dioner Navarro, who doubled. And he top of the eighth started with B.J. Upton — as many things have this post-season. Upton beat out a bouncer up the middle with the help of a double-clutch by Rollins.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Upton swiped second without a throw, and in the process, gave the Rays their post-season record-setting 21st steal. And then he stole third to bring the record to 22 — but more importantly, trotted home with the tying run    when Ruiz's throw deflected off Upton's leg and rolled toward the third-base dugout.

But on this night, the frustration of giving away a three-run lead was only fleeting for the Phillies.

“This exceeded every expectation, thought, dream I had,'' Moyer said.

Also on NBCSports.com Howard: Look at what Agassi is now, not was PFT: Cowboys on rise in our power rankings NCAA FB: Ready for player exodus?  |    Top juniors MLB blog: A look at the top 111 free agents Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

GMs head out to work on offseason trades Report: Mets, Phillies interested in Figgins MLB blog: Tigers listening to offers for Granderson Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Varitek exercises option to remain with Red Sox MLB blog: Mariners are bringing back Griffey ... why? AP sources: Riggleman staying as Nationals manager Wainwright: Holliday wants to return to Cards Cardinals GM still trying to get McGwire to talk to media MLB blog: NL Gold Glove picks were right, unlike AL's   Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: