In a memorable wild card game, the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 in a 15-inning shootout. Both teams’ pitching staffs impressed as there were just five hits given up through nine innings of play. However, the Rays’ plans to send the series into a game three went awry. Guardians’ outfielder Oscar Gonzalez hit a solo home run to left-center to walk it off. Cleveland will now face the New York Yankees in the ALDS.
Impressive Pitching Performances
Tyler Glasnow got the start for the Rays and Triston McKenzie got the start for the Guardians.
It was Glasnow’s third start since coming back from injury and he had the Cleveland lineup fooled. In five innings pitched, he gave up just two hits, recorded five strikeouts, and gave up no runs. Replacing him was Pete Fairbanks, who would load the bases in the sixth inning. Jason Adam was next up and miraculously worked the Rays out of the no-out bases loaded jam to keep the score even at zero. As a whole, the Tampa Bay staff would give up just five hits and put up 19 strikeouts.
McKenzie pitched a gem for the Guardians as well, helping to lead them to victory. In six innings pitched, he finished with eight strikeouts and gave up just two hits. Sam Hentges was the final pitcher for the Guardians to play and he carved the Rays’ lineup in extras. He finished with six strikeouts and just three hits in three innings pitched. Two of his strikeouts came in the top of the 15th inning when pinch runner Vidal Brujan sat on third with one out. Hentges would get Fransisco Mejia and Jose Siri swinging.
In the end, Hentges earned the win. Rays’ ace Corey Kluber gave up the walk-off homer against his former team and received his tenth loss of the season.
Gonzalez Comes Through in the 15th
Batting for both teams was scarce up until extra innings. For Tampa Bay, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Vidal Brujan, Taylor Walls, Manuel Margot, and Issac Paredes all produced a hit (six total). For Cleveland, Will Brennan, Josh Naylor, and Myles Straw each had a hit. Gonzalez had two hits, one of which was a home run ball to end the game (five total hits for the Guardians on the day).
Season Wrap Up
Overall, it was an injury-plagued season for the Rays. Kevin Cash and the team worked hard to compensate as much as possible and was able to sneak into the postseason for a fourth straight season.
Cash on the outing for the Rays: “I mean it is frustrating no doubt. We could not get anything going offensively with a bunch of strikeouts, they pitched really, really well… we are capable of more we just could not get it going.”
However, Cash spoke on how proud he was of the team all season and spoke of lots of work to do in the offseason. It is clear that president of baseball operations Erik Neander has some evaluating to do for the 2023 season.