Delayed but not denied...
It turned out harder than expected after winning the first two games but the Rays are World Champions again thanks to a 5-2 win in Game 7 over the Cubs, who put up quite the fight. Bob Riley picked the right time to pitch one of his best games in a Rays uniform as he went 7 shutout innings, and they got just enough offense including a couple of key hits from players who may have played their final game in Tampa Bay colors. Tomas Laboy, who is certainly out the door as he heads to free agency, had an RBI double in the 2nd to make it 2-0, and Chris Parham, also a pending free agent but who might be brought back, drilled a 2-run double to open the game up at 5-0. The title is their third straight and eighth in the last nine seasons as they've dominated the 2040s. The eight Series wins in nine seasons equals the Yankees' run from 1949-1957 and they'll look to win next year to match the Yankees' 9 in 10 as they won in 1958 as well.
The scene at Publix Park:
