Rays beat Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 to win ALCS and reach World Series vs Brewers
In short
The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 on Monday, Oct. 19 to win the American League Championship Series four games to two. They will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, which starts Friday at American Family Field, and one of the two teams will win a first title.
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The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on Monday, Oct. 19, winning the best-of-seven series four games to two. Newsweek reported an announced sellout crowd of 40,230. Tampa Bay will meet the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, which begins Friday at American Family Field. [ 4 , 11 , 12 , 15 ]
NBC News and CNN said Richie Palacios hit a double that scored two runs for an early lead, and Jonny DeLuca's sacrifice fly made it 3-0. Cleveland cut the gap to 3-1 in the sixth inning, when CNN said Nathaniel Lowe's single scored Chase DeLauter. In the seventh, NBC News said Caminero hit a two-run homer. Cleveland scored two in the eighth to make it 5-3, and Díaz answered with a two-run homer to make it 7-3. Newsweek said that homer came off Guardians pitcher Hunter Gaddis. Newsweek also said the Rays never trailed, that Peralta allowed one run in 5.1 innings, and that the Guardians used a bullpen game. [ 11 , 12 , 15 ]
CNN quoted Caminero, speaking to the TBS broadcast: "I'm very happy for this team right here, for this city. Going to the world series, my God. Unbelievable." Earlier, the Associated Press headlined that Díaz's guarantee that the Rays would win Game 6 did not rile up the Guardians. [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]
Cleveland led the series 2-1 before Tampa Bay won Games 4 and 5. In Game 5 on Sunday, the Rays won 3-1 in Cleveland. Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings, giving up four hits, walking one and striking out six. The Boston Globe reported that Tampa Bay scored a run in each of the first three innings, that Bryan Baker closed out the ninth, and that Cleveland had not won an ALCS when trailing 3-2. Díaz, who had three hits, said after Game 5: "We're going to win tomorrow." [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 12 ]
NBC News and CNN said the Rays and Brewers have never won a World Series, so a first-time champion is guaranteed. NBC News said the Brewers are making their first World Series appearance since 1982, and that Milwaukee won an MLB-high 103 games to Tampa Bay's 98. Newsweek said the Rays lost the 2008 World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies and the 2020 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. NBC News described the Rays' payroll as the third-lowest, while Newsweek called their Opening Day payroll the fifth-smallest in MLB. [ 11 , 12 , 15 ]
Why it matters
The matchup guarantees a first-time World Series champion, since neither the Rays nor the Brewers has won one. Outlets also noted that both teams reached the final with relatively low payrolls.
Key facts
- Tampa Bay won Game 6 of the ALCS 7-3 over Cleveland and took the series four games to two. [ 11 , 12 , 15 ]
- The Rays will play the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, which starts Friday at American Family Field. [ 12 , 15 ]
- It is the Rays' third World Series appearance, after 2008 and 2020. [ 11 , 12 ]
- Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and Yandy Díaz a two-run homer in the eighth. [ 12 , 15 ]
- Freddy Peralta allowed one run in 5.1 innings as the Rays' starter in Game 6. [ 15 ]
- In Game 5 on Sunday, Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings in a 3-1 Rays win that put them ahead 3-2. [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Rays beat the Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 and won the ALCS four games to two. [ 11 , 12 , 15 ]
- Tampa Bay will face Milwaukee in the World Series, with Game 1 on Friday. [ 12 , 15 ]
- Neither the Rays nor the Brewers has won a World Series, so a first-time champion is guaranteed. [ 11 , 12 , 15 ]
- Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings as the Rays won Game 5 3-1 and took a 3-2 series lead. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The Rays reached the World Series for the third time. [ 11 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- How low the Rays' payroll was. NBC News said the Rays built the roster using the third-lowest payroll; Newsweek said they had the fifth-smallest Opening Day payroll in MLB.
- The attendance at Tropicana Field. Only Newsweek gave a figure, an announced sellout crowd of 40,230.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Associated Press reported that Rasmussen helped the Rays beat the Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 for a 3-2 ALCS lead. [ 1 ]
- Reuters previewed Game 6, with Peralta and the Rays looking to finish off the Guardians. [ 8 ]
- The Associated Press reported that Díaz's guarantee that the Rays would win did not rile up the Guardians. [ 9 ]
- CNN reported that the Rays beat the Guardians to book a World Series showdown with the Brewers. [ 11 ]
- The Associated Press reported that Peralta, Caminero and Díaz led the Rays to a 7-3 win and a trip to the World Series. [ 13 ]