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The Tampa Bay Rays are heading to the World Series after taking down the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night. Along with securing their third World Series appearance in franchise history, Tampa Bay has maintained a remarkable record when entering the ninth inning with a lead, matching a feat last achieved by the Athletics.
The Rays are 92-0 this season when leading after eight innings, including both regular-season and postseason games. The last team to finish a year with at least 92 win and a perfect record in those situations was the 2002 A’s, who went 93-0 before losing to the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series.
Tampa Bay will look to preserve that record as the team prepares for a World Series showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers. Both franchises are seeking their first championship, guaranteeing that MLB will crown a first-time World Series winner.
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The Rays clinched their American League pennant with a 4-2 series victory over Cleveland. Tampa Bay overcame a 2-1 deficit by winning Games 4 and 5 before closing out the series at Tropicana Field.
Richie Palacios opened the scoring in Game 6 with a two-run double in the second inning, bringing home Chandler Simpson and Victor Mesa Jr. Jonny DeLuca added another run with a sacrifice fly in the third, giving the Rays a 3-0 advantage.
Starter Freddy Peralta limited the Guardians to one earned run over 5⅓ innings, allowing five hits and three walks while recording three strikeouts. His performance earned him American League Championship Series MVP honors after he finished the series 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He also logged six shutout innings in Game 2 and made a relief appearance in Game 4.
Junior Caminero extended Tampa Bay’s lead with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Cleveland responded with two runs in the eighth, cutting the deficit to 5-3, but Yandy Díaz answered with a two-run home run in the bottom half.
Kevin Kelly stuck out Brayan Rocchio with the bases loaded to end the Guardians eighth-inning threat. Bryan Baker then retired Cleveland in order in the ninth.
The Rays finished the regular season 98-64, won the American League East, and swept the New York Yankees in the division series before eliminating the Guardians. Meanwhile, the Brewers finished with an MLB-best 103 victories and swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Both teams will begin the World Series on Friday at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Tampa Bay previously reached the championship series in 2008 and 2020 but has not won a title.
The matchup will bring together the best regular-season teams from both leagues, with one franchise finally ending its wait for a first World Series championship.
Related: Why the Rays don’t have what it takes to beat Brewers in the World Series
Related: Freddy Peralta’s wild run with Rays is like no other since 1968