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, Dennis Rasmussen stared 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 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.