— Freddy Peralta threw 5 1/3 gritty innings, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise’s 29 seasons.
The Guardians couldn’t produce clutch, game-shifting hits over the final three games of the series — and it cost them. On Monday, they went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base, squandering opportunities to score after falling behind. Their best chance arose in the eighth when they loaded the bases with consecutive walks and a hit by pitch with two outs for Brayan Rocchio. Kevin Kelly, summoned to face Rocchio after Cleveland scored two runs in the inning, struck Rocchio out on three pitches. In the end, Cleveland scored seven runs over the final three games — all losses — and their World Series title drought extends to 78 years as a result.
The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals.
Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.
The loss extended Cleveland’s World Series championship drought to 78 years.
sports
