The Tampa Bay Rays held off a Cleveland Guardians comeback attempt to win the American League Championship Series in six games
Video above: Visit Milwaukee expects the World Series to bring up to $15 million to Milwaukee
The Rays got off to an early lead, added some insurance runs in the seventh inning, and held off a late-inning Cleveland comeback to win in front of their home fans at Tropicana Field.
They will now play the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.
Both the Brewers and the Rays are searching for their first World Series title.
The Brewers last made the World Series 44 years ago in 1982, while the Rays have made it three times in franchise history. Tampa Bay advanced to the World Series in 2008 where they were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, and in 2020, when they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games — all played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday, the Rays got on the board first with a two-run double by Richie Palacios. Johnny DeLuca tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly.
Cleveland scored in the sixth inning on a Nathaniel Lowe single.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, it looked like Junior Caminero’s two-run home run would seal the deal, making the score 5-1.
But the Guardians loaded the bases in the eighth inning and plated two more runs.
However, Yandy Diaz ripped a two-run home run of his own to cap the scoring and secure the victory.
