ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — 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.
asserted
Rays → throw → seasons
The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980.
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teams → face → 1980
The loss extended Cleveland’s World Series championship drought to 78 years.
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loss → extend → years
On the 18-year anniversary of their first AL pennant in 2008, the Rays jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning on Richie Palacios’ two-run double and clinched it with closer Bryan Baker on the mound.
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Rays → jump → mound
The Guardians wouldn’t give up and had the go-ahead run at first base in the eighth when Kevin Kelly struck out Brayan Rocchio to leave the bases loaded after two runs scored.
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runs → give → bases
Peralta allowed one run and five hits to earn his second win in the ALCS in his third appearance.
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Peralta → allow → appearance
He threw six scoreless innings to win Game 2 and got two outs in relief in Game 4.
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He → throw → Game
A sellout crowd of 40,230 fans waved yellow-and-blue rally towels, rang cowbells and chanted “Let’s go Rays!” throughout the night at Tropicana Field, which needed major renovations after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof two years ago and caused extensive damage throughout the stadium.
asserted
Milton → wave → stadium
The Rays played their 2025 home games across the bay in Tampa at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex, got new ownership before this season and secured a new stadium deal to bear ready in 2029 near the NFL’s Buccaneers.
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Rays → play → Buccaneers
They returned to the Trop to win 55 games in the regular season.
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They → return → season
Only Milwaukee had that many home wins this year.
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Milwaukee → have → wins
After sweeping the Yankees in the Division Series, the Rays fell behind the Guardians1-0 and 2-1 in this series before taking three straight games.
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Rays → sweep → games
Caminero gave Tampa Bay a cushion with his first career post-season homer in the seventh inning.
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Caminero → give → inning
The two-time All-Star sent a drive off the left-field foul pole to give the Rays a 5-1 lead, becoming the first player to go deep on a splitter by All-Star closer Cade Smith.
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Star → send → Smith
Caminero turned around before reaching first base, looked toward his dugout and pounded his chest with both arms, cupped his ear rounding second to hear more cheers, stopped before reaching the plate, pointed into the stands and crossed his arms before crossing home.
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Caminero → turn → arms
Caminero hit 42 homers in the regular season but needed 33 at-bats to get his first in October.
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Caminero → hit → October
The Guardians answered against Tyler Wells and Ian Seymour by loading the bases on two singles and a walk with two outs.
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Guardians → answer → outs
Seymour walked Patrick Bailey to force in one run and hit Angel Martínez with a pitch to force in another.
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Seymour → walk → another
Kelly entered and fanned Rocchio on three change-ups.
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Kelly → enter → ups
Díaz, who guaranteed a Game 6 victory through an interpreter on Sunday, gave the Rays a four-run lead with a two-run shot off Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the eighth.
asserted
who → guarantee → eighth
Caminero led off Tampa Bay’s second with single off opener Shawn Armstrong, who took the loss in his second start in three games.
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who → lead → games
Left-hander Tim Herrin replaced Armstrong.
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Herrin → replace → Armstrong
Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before Victor Mesa Jr. walked.
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Jr. → reach → second
Simpson advanced to third on Jonny DeLuca’s flyout to centre.
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Simpson → advance → centre
After Mesa stole second, Palacios looped a double to right-centre for a 2-0 lead.
asserted
Palacios → steal → lead
Armstrong, who was the opener in Game 4, faced the first four batters, becoming the first pitcher in post-season history to start a game after pitching both of the previous two days.
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who → face → days
DeLuca’s sacrifice fly off Joey Cantillo made it 3-0 in the third but the Rays missed an opportunity to break it open with more runs after they loaded the bases with no outs.
asserted
they → make → outs
Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single in the sixth drove in Cleveland’s first run.
asserted
single → drive → run
The Aporia
