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On Sunday night, the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a playoff berth after the Texas Rangers fell to the Cleveland Guardians. The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays will finish No. 1 and No. 2 in the American League East for the first time since the “Devil Rays” debuted in 1998.
For the 5th year in a row, WE ARE IN! pic.twitter.com/C3YOcs2wIE
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 17, 2023
Five Years in a Row
The Baltimore Orioles edged the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Sunday after both teams clinched a playoff spot. Regardless of the outcome, both the Rays and Orioles made it to the playoffs after the Rangers lost 9-2 to the Guardians.
Tampa’s Brandon Lowe gave them an early lead after scoring a homer. In the fourth, Tristan Gray and Christian Bethancourt homered back-to-back to give Tampa Bay the lead again. The Rays’ manager Kevin Cash called on to Pete Fairbanks before the ninth inning, indicating just how important the game is. For the first time since 2021, Fairbanks pitched for two innings. Unfortunately, the plan failed. Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman hit a homer, cutting the lead now to 3-2. Following that, Adam Frazier doubled down the shift-vacated third base line for the tying run in the ninth.
The Orioles tied it twice while down to the final out. Rutschman hit an RBI single in the 10th, and DL Hall retired the Rays on a popup and grounder in the 11th.
RutschBOMB pic.twitter.com/Bvey2xFJ6G
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 17, 2023
Playoffs Commence for Tampa Bay
On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays will begin their playoff run as they take on the Los Angeles Angels. Both teams are currently on a losing streak after the Angels fell 5-3 to the Tigers. After going for five innings, Kenny Rosenberg was the losing pitcher. He gave up five runs and seven hits. The Angels’ Randal Grichuk led the offense with a double, home run and two RBI.
The Rays will try to take home advantage as they host the Angels in Tropicana Field.
11 games left and a lot to play for. pic.twitter.com/LPRN7PPmuz
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 17, 2023
