*Photo from ESPN*
For the first time since 2013, the Tampa Bay Rays will be playing postseason baseball. With the Cleveland Indians 8-2 loss to the Washington Nationals, combined with Tampa's 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, ended Cleveland's playoff hopes and secured a wild card spot for Tampa Bay. Tyler Glasnow pitched into the 5th inning, and Tommy Pham homered to secure the spot.
Tampa Bay got on the board in the 3rd inning on Pham's two run homer to left field. In the 4th, Willy Adames hit an RBI single to make it 3-0 Rays. It stayed that way until the 7th, when Teoscar Hernandez got Toronto on the board with a two run homer to right field. In the 8th, Avisail Garcia hit an RBI single, and Nate Lowe scored on a dropped 3rd strike to make it 5-2. In the 9th, Austin Meadows hit a solo homer to make it 6-2.
Glasnow pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up no runs on no hits and two walks. He struck out 4 to earn the no decision. Oliver Drake got the win for the Rays, working the 7th and 8th innings, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out 4 and improved to 5-2 on the season. Emilio Pagan worked the 9th to secure the playoff spot. Manager Kevin Cash said that ''This organization has created a very winning culture, and there's been a little bit of a drought, we get to hang another banner, we want to hang some more. Really happy to be a part of it.''
The Rays will play the Oakland Athletics in the wild card game on Wednesday night. Cash announced that Charlie Morton would start the game. The game site is to be determined, as the teams are tied for the spot, and Oakland holds tiebreaker. Pham said that ''Oakland is a tough team. We have to get through them first. We're going to probably have to get through Houston next. It's a long road ahead of us, but it's a step in the right direction.'' Adames said that ''That's what we dream about, coming to the big leagues and going to the postseason, and now we're here, this is just the first step."
The Rays will look to get the first wild card spot on Saturday afternoon. They have not yet named a starter. The Blue Jays will send Trent Thornton to the mound.
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