Rays Capture ALCS to Advance to World Series
The Tampa Bay Rays didn’t have a home stadium at the beginning of 2025. The top of Tropicana Field had been torn off the previous October by Hurricane Milton.
The New York Yankees let the Rays play at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for the 2025 season. Later that season, owner Stuart Sternberg agreed to sell the Rays after 20 years. It was a team in a state of flux.
And yet, just one year later, against all odds, the Rays are headed to their third World Series.
The Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to win the series 4-2 Monday at The Trop. It is the first time the Rays have won the AL since 2020, when they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games in the World Series. It is the team’s third pennant in franchise history, but they are still looking for their first World Series title.
The Rays trailed the series 2-1 until Game 4 was postponed Friday due to rain in Cleveland. After that, the Rays took control of the series, winning the next two games 7-3 and 3-1 to take a 3-2 series lead heading back home.
After Game 5, Rays designated hitter Yandy Díaz made a bold statement to the league and media.
“It all ends tomorrow. We’re going to win tomorrow,” he said Sunday night.
He did not mince his words.
It did not take long for the Rays to start hot against the Guardians in Game 6. In the second inning with two out and two runners on, second baseman Richie Palacios drove in both with a double to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. A lead that they would not relinquish.
After a Rays sacrifice fly in the third and an RBI single for the Guardians in the top of the sixth, the Rays were up 3-1 entering the home seventh. With a runner on first and no outs, Rays third baseman Junior Caminero hit a two-run home run off of the left field foul pole to make the score 5-1.
It took him 38.7 seconds to round the bases thanks to celebration and emotion. It was the longest trot in a postseason game in the Statcast Era, which dates back to 2015.
However, the Guardians were not going to give up just yet. In the eighth inning, they took advantage of poor pitching from Rays reliever Ian Seymour to score two runs on a walk and hit by pitch with the bases loaded to make the score 5-3.
Then, in the bottom of that inning, Díaz, the man who guaranteed victory the day before, hit a two-run home run to left field that traveled 416 feet to make the score 7-3 and ice the game.
“I’m really glad he backed it up,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Rays reliever Bryan Baker put the finishing touches on the night, and after catcher Liam Hicks made the final play in foul territory, a cause for celebration was in effect.
“Tampa! This is for you!” Caminero said.
Rays starting pitcher Freddy Peralta finished with 51/3 innings giving up just five hits and one earned run on 84 pitches. He was awarded the ALCS MVP after going 2-0 in the series and giving up just one earned run in 12 innings of work. He was acquired by the Rays at the trade deadline on Aug. 2. Twenty days later, he had the worst qualified ERA in the MLB at 5.33. Yet, he turned it around and has been the best pitcher in baseball since the start of September.
The Rays now look ahead to the World Series starting Friday in Milwaukee. They face a Brewers team with the best record in baseball this season at 103-59. The Brewers are coming off a sweep of the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Both Fall Classic teams had the best home records in baseball at 55-26. They have the two best pitching staffs in the game and boast elite defenses. This is also the first World Series since 1980 where both teams are looking for their first title.
“I think you got to enjoy the moment,” Cash said. “It’s easy to appreciate what we’re getting ready to do next and the challenges that lie ahead.”
Game 1 at American Family Field in Milwaukee airs starting at 8 p.m. on Fox and will also be joined in progress on WRUF after Gators Volleyball takes on the LSU Tigers at 6:45 p.m.
Category: Baseball, MLB Playoffs
