It wasn't to be...
After they staved off elimination and won Game 4 in New York, it looked for all the world that this would be the typical Rays series comeback - I haven't done the research but they have a great record over the years in DS Games 5 and LCS and World Series Games 7. Alas the script didn't play out as usual and the Rays fell to the Yankees in Game 5. It was a scoreless game until the 5th when Dave Rose suddenly couldn't get anyone out, giving up a leadoff homer and then three more runs. The bullpen wasn't much relief, and although it looked like they might pull out one of their patented miracle comebacks when Juan Davila launched a 3-run homer in the 7th, Steve Talbott put those thoughts to rest when he gave up a 2-run shot to the Yankees in the 9th. There's no shame in losing a playoff series to a 107-win team I guess, and the Yankees will now face the Twins in the ALCS. It's going to be quite a tough offseason with so many key players eligible for free agency (Davila and Bonczek on the offense and about half the pitching staff in Winger, Bernal, Kay, Mejia, Bransington and Talbott. The good news is we only have about $100M in salary commitments so we'll have money to spend. More on that to come shortly of course.
Meanwhile the NLCS is set after this Game 5:
As usual when the Rays are eliminated early, coverage will be limited to series recap posts for the LCS round and the World Series.