Eighteen years to the day after reaching their first World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays are headed back.
Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz homered Monday night as Tampa Bay defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field. The victory completed a 4-2 series win, gave the Rays their third American League pennant, and sent them to the World Series for the first time since 2020.
Freddy Peralta delivered another strong postseason start and earned ALCS Most Valuable Player honors, while Tampa Bay’s offense overcame a late Cleveland rally to finish the series in front of a sold-out home crowd.
The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers beginning Friday, October 23, in a World Series that guarantees a first-time champion.
Palacios Gives Rays an Early Lead
Cleveland opened Game 6 with a bullpen approach, sending Shawn Armstrong to the mound for his second start in three games. Armstrong had also pitched on each of the previous two days, making him the first pitcher in postseason history to start after appearing in both preceding games.
The strategy quickly encountered trouble.
Caminero singled to begin the second inning, and Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice. Simpson stole second, Victor Mesa Jr. walked, and both runners advanced into scoring position before Richie Palacios delivered a two-run double into the right-center-field gap.
Palacios, who began his major league career with Cleveland, gave his former organization an early reminder of what he could do at the plate.
Tampa Bay added another run in the third inning when Jonny DeLuca lifted a sacrifice fly off Joey Cantillo, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Rays had an opportunity to do considerably more damage after loading the bases with nobody out, but Cleveland escaped without allowing another run.
Peralta Earns ALCS MVP Honors
Peralta entered Monday having already delivered six scoreless innings in Tampa Bay’s Game 2 victory. He followed that performance with another effective outing when the Rays needed it most.
The right-hander worked 5⅓ innings, allowing one run on five hits while walking three and striking out three. He kept Cleveland off the scoreboard through five innings before Nathaniel Lowe delivered an RBI single in the sixth.
Peralta departed with Tampa Bay leading 3-1 and eventually earned his second victory of the series.
His contributions extended beyond two starts. Peralta also appeared in relief during Game 4, giving the Rays another option during a tightly contested series.
For his work throughout the ALCS, he was named the series MVP.
The award capped an eventful season for Peralta, who joined Tampa Bay in a midseason trade with the New York Mets and became an important part of the Rays’ postseason rotation.
Caminero Brings Tropicana Field to Its Feet
Cleveland remained within striking distance until the seventh inning, when Caminero produced the biggest swing of the night.
Facing Guardians reliever Cade Smith, the 23-year-old third baseman drove a two-run home run off the left-field foul pole, extending Tampa Bay’s advantage to 5-1.
It was Caminero’s first home run of the postseason after hitting 42 during the regular season.
He celebrated before reaching first base, turning toward the Rays’ dugout and pounding his chest. As he rounded the bases, he acknowledged former Tampa Bay outfielder Randy Arozarena in the stands, then stopped near home plate to imitate Arozarena’s familiar crossed-arms celebration.
The home run gave the Rays a four-run cushion, but Cleveland still had one rally left.
Guardians Threaten Before Díaz Finishes the Job
The Guardians loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning against Tyler Wells and Ian Seymour.
Patrick Bailey drew a bases-loaded walk to force home one run, and Ángel Martínez was hit by a pitch, bringing Cleveland within 5-3.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash turned to Kevin Kelly, who struck out Brayan Rocchio to end the threat and preserve the two-run lead.
Then Díaz delivered the answer.
After predicting a Rays victory following Game 5, Díaz backed up his confidence with a two-run homer off Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the eighth. The 416-foot drive into the left-field seats restored Tampa Bay’s four-run advantage at 7-3.
The crowd responded with chants of Díaz’s name, bringing him out of the dugout for a curtain call.
Bryan Baker handled the ninth inning, securing the final three outs and setting off a celebration at Tropicana Field.
Cleveland finished with seven hits, including two each from Chase DeLauter and Lowe. José Ramírez, who had been a central figure in the Guardians’ postseason run, went hitless in four at-bats with a walk.
Cleveland’s World Series drought continues. The franchise has not won a championship since 1948, the longest active drought in Major League Baseball.
A World Series With a Guaranteed New Champion
The Rays are returning to the World Series for the third time in franchise history. They lost to Philadelphia in five games in 2008 and to the Dodgers in six games in 2020.
This time, their opponent is another franchise seeking its first championship.
Milwaukee swept the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series and will enter the Fall Classic with the benefit of eight days between games.
The Brewers and Rays met for three games during the regular season, with Milwaukee winning two of them.
Their World Series matchup also offers a contrast in postseason experience. Milwaukee last reached the Fall Classic in 1982, when the franchise lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. Tampa Bay’s most recent appearance came during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when games were played at a neutral site in Arlington, Texas.
For the Rays, this year’s opportunity comes with a return to their own ballpark after Tropicana Field sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Milton in 2024.
The ALCS victory, celebrated in front of a capacity crowd, marked a return to the biggest stage for a franchise that spent the previous season playing away from its traditional home.
The Rays won the ALCS after falling behind Cleveland 2-1. They now need four more wins to claim the first World Series championship in franchise history.
World Series Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m. CT at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The game will air on FOX, with starting pitchers yet to be announced.
