Tuesday, 4 a.m.

Perhaps the words escape you to describe the Tampa Bay Rays' journey to the World Series.

Perhaps you should savor it in images.

That. was Jonathan Aranda, sinking to his knees and shouting to the skies. That was Junior Caminero, his arms outstretched in a primal scream. That was Taylor Walls, bouncing up and down as if on a pogo streak.

And that was Yandy Diaz, the one who had guaranteed all of this, the one who clinched it with a two-run homer in the eighth.

The Rays now advance to a best-of-seven series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The series begins on Friday night in Milwaukee..

There were so many big moments for the Rays in their victory.

There was Fastball Freddy Peralta, who won the series MVP.

Peralta, who came to the Rays after a dreadful first half with the Mets, pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and one earned run.

There was Caminero, who hit his first home run of the post-season in the eighth.

There was Richie Palacios, who had a two-run double early to give the Rays a lead.

There was Bryan Baker, shutting down another opponent. Baker didn't get a save this time, but he still smothered another team.

There was Kevin Kelly, who got the key out after Cleveland had cut the deficit to 5-3.

Caminero and Palacios each had two hits for the Rays.

The Rays have reached the World Series twice before. They lost to Philadelphia in five games in 2008 and to the Dodgers in six games in 2020.

Monday, 4 a.m.

One win away. Just that, and the Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series.

The Rays won again Sunday night, turning back the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 at Progressive Field. The Rays now return to Tropicana Field, where they won 55 times this season, for tonight's game and, if needed, Tuesday night's.

"It all ends tomorrow," Rays' designated hitter Yandy Diaz said. "We're going to win tomorrow."

The Rays scored single runs in the first, second and third innings. They cooled off afterward, but Cleveland scored its single run on a groundout in the sixth.

Once again, Drew Rasmussen started for the Rays. He pitched seven innings of four-hit, one-run baseball. Bryan Baker saved the game for the 35th straight time.

One of the key outs, however, came when reliever Tyler Wells struck out Jose Ramirez as the tying run with two outs in the eighth.

The Rays got three hits from Diaz and two each from Jonathan Aranda, Chandler Simpson and Liam Hicks.

In the first inning, Jonny DeLuca walked with the bases loaded. In the second, Aranda singled in Ben Williamson. And in the third, Hicks singled in Simpson.

The Rays had 12 hits for the game.

Cleveland starter Parker Messick, from Planr City, threw 57 pitches in his two innings.

The Rays and Guardians play at 8 tonight. Freddy Peralta will start for the Rays. Cleveland has not announced a starter.

Monday, 3 a.m.

That's why you don't turn the franchise over to the rookie.

As popular as free agent Jalon Daniels has become in Tampa Bay in recent weeks, it was a bit presumptive to assume that the Bucs should shelve quarterback Baker Mayfield and start Daniels instead. After all, Mayfield has won 27 games with the Bucs; Daniels has won one.

Perhaps, then, it shouldn't have been such a surprise that Daniels struggled so mightily in the fourth quarter of the team’s 26-19 overtime loss to Pittsburgh at Raymond James Stadium.

Daniels, who had played well in guiding the Bucs to a 16-3 lead, had a rough late going. In his fourth quarter and overtime, he hit only five of 15 passes for 50 yards and threw two interceptions for 50 yards. His throws were off.

"Obviously, they made plays," Bucs' coach Todd Bowles said. "It's a good defense over there. Those guys made some plays. He probably would like to have some of those back, but we can't put him in those situations. We have to play is a team. It's not just him -- everyone is involved in that. He's going to make a few mistakes, but he played hard."

Look, this isn't to pin it all on Daniels. The defense gave up 23 points in the fourth and overtime. They allowed Aaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf to look young again. The running game disappeared. The line gave up five sacks. The Bucs deserved to fall to 1-5.

"We have no margin for error," Bowles said. "We played hard. Very hard, very competitive. We have to learn how to finish ball games. We didn't finish at the end. You play that hard and grab a lead, you have to keep it. We practice two minute situations for a reason."

If there is a silver lining, the Bucs got impact from its young players. Rueben Bane had his first sack. Ted Hurst had three catches. Bauer Sharp had his first catch. Josiah Trotter had 12 tackles. Second-year pro David Walker had two sacks. Keionte Scott had a sack.

The older Bucs did less.

Especially in the fourth quarter.

The Bucs travel to Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m.