![]() The Rays lineup has been bolstered by the long-awaited promotion of heralded prospect Wander Franco and the addition of designated hitter Nelson Cruz, one of the most prolific power hitters in the game.Īnd though the pandemic persists, teams are back playing postseason games in their home stadiums with fans in the stands, about 30,000 expected for each of the first two games at the Trop. Outfielder Randy Arozarena, a relative unknown entering the 2020 playoffs, is now on everyone’s radar following a ridiculous 20-game run last postseason in which he had 29 hits, including a record-tying 14 extra-base hits, a record 10 home runs and 64 total bases. The bullpen, which might be the team’s biggest strength, has been almost completely remade. In their place atop the rotation are a couple of rookies who had never started a regular-season game before this season: Shane McClanahan and Shane Baz. The Rays’ top two starters, Charlie Morton and Blake Snell, are gone. The Blue Jays failed to make the playoffs while the Red Sox, who finished last in the East a year ago, beat the Yankees in the wild-card game. The Rays again won the American League East but got to skip the wild-card game as the playoff field was restored to its normal 10 teams after being expanded to 16 last season. Much has changed since the Rays met the Blue Jays in the best-of-three wild-card series to open the 2020 postseason at Tropicana Field little more than a year ago. McClanahan struck out three in the first, allowing only a single to Kyle Schwarber before blowing a 100 mph heater past Rafael Devers to end the inning. Rays starter Shane McClanahan held the Red Sox scoreless on five hits over five innings before being relieved by JT Chargois to start the sixth. After advancing to third on a Brandon Lowe sacrifice fly, Franco scored when Yandy Diaz dove headfirst into first base to beat out a grounder to third. It was the first time in MLB postseason history a player hit a home run and stole home in the same game.Įarlier, the Rays hustled their way to two runs in the first.Īfter drawing a leadoff walk, Arozarena scored from first on Wander Franco’s double into centerfield, which Enrique Hernandez bobbled. With the Red Sox not bothering to hold him on third, Arozarena broke for the plate and slid in well ahead of Josh Taylor’s throw to catcher Christian Vazquez. ![]() Arozarena did the unthinkable in the seventh, stealing home to score the Rays’ final run.
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