On to the ALDS...
The Rays made quick work of the Kansas City Royals and an offense that found it hard to score runs much of the season ended up scoring 20 runs in the two games after today's 8-2 series-clinching win. The Rays had some adversity to deal with as starter
Ryan Okuda left in the first inning with back spasms but
Walt Khattak and
Jaden Stevenson took over the rest of the way and were very effective, with Stevenson getting the rare 5 1/3-inning save.
Isaac Cedillos' 2-run single in the 2nd gave them a lead they'd never relinquish and
Rodolfo Solano's 3-run homer in the 8th put the game and the series away. Now it's on to the ALDS against Seattle with
Donye Evans penciled in for Game 1.
In the rest of the Wild Card action:
Like the Rays the Yankees swept their wild-card series and they'll face the White Sox in the other ALDS. Meanwhile pundits across the country decried the presence of the 79-83 Padres in the postseason but they reminded the baseball world that everyone starts off 0-0 in October by thrashing the Nationals 11-3 to get the edge in their series.