Pedroia just couldn't find way in 8th

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - To Dustin Pedroia, the difference between this year and last year was this much. That's about how close Pedroia estimates he was from putting a perfect swing on a Dan Wheeler fastball in the eighth inning of last night's deciding game of the American League Championship Series.

With two runners on and the Red Sox staring at a two-run deficit, Pedroia lifted a 1-and-1 offering to left field for the inning's first out. The Sox were unable to push across any runs in the frame and ultimately fell to the Rays, 3-1.

"I put a good swing on it," said Pedroia, his voice trailing off. "I just got under it . . ."

Last year, he didn't miss it. In what he would later term "the biggest at-bat of my life," Pedroia belted a two-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the ALCS, helping the Red Sox pull away from the Indians in an 11-2 victory.

This time, it's the Rays who are moving on. The Red Sox missed a chance to defend their World Series title by that much.

"When it comes down to October, the best team always wins," said Pedroia. "We ran into a team that was a little better than us."

Added J.D. Drew, "We pitched well, we just couldn't get the big hit."

Pedroia did just about all he could to prolong the Sox' season before his final at-bat. The second baseman reached base in his first three plate appearances, and got the Sox on the board with a solo home run in the first inning.

It was the only run the Sox would muster.

Jon Lester put forth a gutsy outing, but Rays starter Matt Garza was - as Pedroia put it - a little better.

"We didn't give [Lester] any run support," said Pedroia. "We gave ourselves an opportunity and that's all you can ask for. We kept fighting."

On Garza's sixth pitch of the night, Pedroia hopped on a 1-and-1 changeup that hung letter high and redirected it inside the left-field foul pole to give the Sox a 1-0 cushion.

He continued to find ways to get on base, but the Sox couldn't get him home. Pedroia took a fastball off his left elbow with two outs in the third inning and stole second to get into scoring position, but David Ortiz struck out.

Pedroia worked Garza for a tough walk in the sixth, fighting back from a 1-and-2 count by fouling off five pitches before drawing the one-out pass. But again it was wasted as the Rays turned a double play when Ortiz whiffed and Pedroia was cut down trying to steal second.

Pedroia was at his postseason best in Tropicana Field. He belted two home runs in Game 2 (an extra-inning loss) and added a hit and a run in a Game 1 victory. Pedroia had a six-game hitting streak snapped here in Saturday night's Game 6, but he rebounded with the 1-for-2 performance last night.

But there was little solace for the Red Sox and last season's Rookie of the Year. And the team was this close.

Pedroia stood in the locker room with his head in his hands for a few minutes after the loss. He politely declined interviews before showering and returning to face the media. He's already looking ahead to next season and knows the Sox will come back a little better.

"Everyone in the division is going to come back a little better," said Pedroia. "We'll be ready and we look forward to that."

Chris Forsberg can be reached at cforsberg@boston.com