[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays opened the final homestand of the regular season with a 7-2 win over Baltimore at Publix Park. Steve Morris (18-6) went 5.1 7 2 2 1 2 for the win, Jon McGovern homered twice (#11 & 12) and drove in 3, and Ezequiel Avalos was 3-3 with HR #9/13 and 3 RBI.

Game 2: Dave Rose lost out on his chance to win 20 games but the Rays still prevailed 5-2 over the Orioles when Juan Davila hit a 3-run walk-off homer (#36) in the bottom of the 9th to win it. Rose was an excellent 7 5 2 2 1 8 but couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the 6th inning, allowing Baltimore to tie. He would have gone on the final day had he won today but instead he'll finish his regular season 18-6, 3.84 with 213 strikeouts. Mel Mejia (8-0) instead got the win in relief while Juan Viatoro had a solo homer (#15) and David Morales was 3-4 with an RBI.

Game 3: The bench was emptied for the finale and the offense suffered for it in a 6-2 loss. Rex Bransington took a 1-0 lead into the 8th before putting the first two on and Mel Mejia uncharacteristically melted down, allowing Bransington's men to score along with 3 of his own. Bransington finished an excellent 7 4 2 2 0 6 and ends his season 11-3, 3.67 with 4.4 WAR. Dantel Chinchilla, one of the few regulars who played, had a pair of doubles and an RBI.

Team record: 119-39. Next up: We finish the season with 4 at home against the Yankees, whom we may see in the playoffs. New York has had a great season with 105 wins and are one short of the 2021 Dodgers for the most wins by a team that didn't win its division.

Team news: We have a slew of players becoming free agents at year's end but one who won't be now is Alec McInerney as we signed the lefty to a 2/8.8 extension after a couple of successful stints in Rays colors.

Playoff race update: Houston and the Angels are tied atop the AL West and they're both 1 game ahead of Austin for the second wild card. In the NL Chicago and Milwaukee are tied for the NL Central lead and also tied with Milwaukee for the two wild card spots.