The Tampa Bay Rays are going to the World Series. Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 7-3 on Monday night in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field, closing the series 4-2 and booking a Fall Classic unlike any in more than four decades.

Freddy Peralta gave the Rays 5 1/3 innings with one earned run and took ALCS MVP honors with a 1.08 postseason ERA. The former Brewer now faces Milwaukee in the World Series, with Game 1 set for Friday, October 23 at American Family Field. The Brewers swept the Dodgers in the NLCS and went 103-59 in the regular season.

The offense arrived in layers. Palacios ripped a two run double and DeLuca added a sacrifice fly. Caminero hit a two run homer off the foul pole. Cleveland cut the lead to 5-3 late, and Diaz answered with a two run homer in the eighth that ended the argument. Baker worked a 1-2-3 ninth to close it.

This is the first World Series where both teams have zero titles, the first time that has happened since 1980. Cleveland led this series 2-1 and then lost three straight, a collapse that will sit with the Guardians all winter. Tampa Bay lost no such grip. The Rays took the pennant at home and the first timers World Series starts Friday in Milwaukee.

Key Facts

  • Final: Rays 7, Guardians 3 in ALCS Game 6 at Tropicana Field. Series 4-2.
  • MVP: Freddy Peralta, 5 1/3 IP and 1 ER in Game 6, 1.08 postseason ERA
  • Big swings: Palacios two run double, Caminero two run HR off the foul pole and Diaz two run HR in the 8th
  • Next: World Series Game 1 Friday, October 23 at American Family Field in Milwaukee
  • History: First World Series where both teams have zero titles, first since 1980

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