CLEVELAND — Tiny plastic strips dangled from ceiling. Tampa BayThe clubhouse had been cleaned of all furniture and prepared for the final innings.
The Guardians Other plans were possible.
“We don’t want anyone celebrating in our home, right?” Cleveland starter Cal Quantrill said.
Rookies Oscar Gonzalez And Steven Kwan In the eighth inning, the Guardians prevented the Rays declining one of the AL’s wild-card spots. 2-1 win Thursday night
Two of the three games were won by the Central champion Guardians. This was a close series and could be a preview for the playoffs. Two of the three games were extended and all three were decided by one run.
The Rays needed a win after Baltimore’s loss in Boston, and they took to the field in search of a fourth consecutive postseason. However, they couldn’t overcome a Cleveland team that had fought back throughout the season.
“Kind of being our” [modus operandi] Quantrill stated that they are available all year. “You can’t get us away. We are not a fun team.
As the Rays were still one win away from the playoff field, they rolled coolers filled with champagne and beer into Tampa’s clubhouse.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said that losing is disappointing. He didn’t want to focus on a game that was lost late. “The disappointment is that we were up in eighth inning and lost.”
Tampa Bay had a chance to win in the ninth. The reliever had three walks and Tampa Bay loaded the bases. Trevor Stephan. But he struck out. Ji-Man Choi And then they got Isaac Paredes To earn his third save, he flew to short.
Quantrill stated, “That is a really great team,” after Quantrill remained unbeaten in Progressive Field’s 33 starts. “I know some of the guys on that squad. That team is my favorite. However, we don’t want the team to celebrate here.
“They can have a good time celebrating wherever they go next. It’s not about beating them. It is about showing that we can continue playing the game how we want.
The Guardians now have 37 victories from a row and their record for team wins is now 29. Enyel De Los Santos (1-0) pitched a perfect 8th as Cleveland improved to 20-4 from Sept. 4.
The Guardians were shut out for seven innings and got a pinch-hit one off Shawn Armstrong (2-3) From rookie Will Brennan To start the eighth. Myles Straw Kwan then sacrificed, and Kwan doubled it to tie it at 1-all.
The dangerous path was taken by the Rays Jose Ramirez Gonzalez was left with two outs. He hit a slow roller to his right side, just out of Choi’s reach at the first time Brennan scored.
Cash stated, “I felt sorry for Army.” “He threw it so well, and Gonzalez swings at a pitch almost hitting him and just found the perfect spot.”
Quantrill’s home-run record was maintained by Quantrill thanks to Cleveland’s rally. Although he allowed just one run and three runs in six innings, the right-hander appeared to be heading for a hard loss before his teammates rallied.