That was disappointing...
A 2-0 series lead. Leads going into the 9th in Games 3 and 4. The Rays couldn't have been in better position to advance but somehow they contrived to blow the ALDS and end up heading home for the winter after another tough 1-0 loss in Game 5. They got five brilliant starts from four starters and only two wins to show for it as the bullpen in Games 3 & 4 and the vaunted #1 offense in league scoring only 4 runs over the final 3 games were the culprits here. Today in particular it was galling to see them only manage 3 hits with one of them a leadoff double in the 8th from Dantel Chinchilla but he was stranded. It didn't help that the red-hot Jose Lozada injured himself in Game 4 beating out an infield single, severely straining his hip and out for the year, but there were plenty enough bats who had big years to make up for his loss but didn't. Jesus Avalos, who's going to win the AL MVP, hit a respectable .280 but failed to tally an extra-base hit or any kind of big hit in this series and playoff legend Luis Barela looked all of his 39 years by going 2 for 20 this postseason. It's going to be a tough pill to swallow and it's back to the drawing board for 2055.
The Yankees will be facing off against Minnesota as the Twins pulled off a miracle 3-run rally in the 9th to win 3-2 (that's former Ray Chris O'Brien picking up the win):
