Backs against the wall now...
The Rays had the series evened up for 7 1/2 innings but the bullpen, a strength throughout the season, let them down as a 5-3 lead turned into a 6-5 loss at absolutely the worst time and the Rays now have to beat the Angels three straight to keep their season going.
Heston Kjerstad blasted a couple of homers to help the Rays erase early deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 (predictably
Joe Ryan gave up a couple of homers, although I thought it make take longer than the 2nd batter of the game, Mike Trout, who hit a 2-run shot). But Trout took former teammate
Griffin Canning deep in the 7th to cut the Rays lead to 5-4,
Nick Anderson gave up a 2-out RBI single in the 8th to let LA tie, and then
Devin Williams couldn't get anyone out in the 9th, allowing a walk, a single and then another single to Jared Walsh to bring home the game-winner. Fortunately for the Rays they'll have
Tyler Glasnow on the mound to try and keep them alive tomorrow, but unfortunately they won't have him for Games 6 and 7.
In the NLCS the Freeway Series gets closer and closer to fruition:
