September 30-October 2, 2033: vs Baltimore (3)
Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Acosta (7-5, 5 2 0 0 0 6). HR-Y.Alvarez (31). Acosta was excellent and Rays pitching took a shutout into the 9th. They were backed by Yordan, who doubled in a run and hit a solo homer, and Pino, who delivered a 2-run double.
Game 2: 10-6 W. WP-Ogando (3-5). S-R.Rodriguez (41). Starter-Fragoso (3.2 4 2 2 1 5). HR-Hardy (32), Pino (25/46), Rutschman (22). Rays broke a 5-5 tie in the 8th with a 5-run inning featuring a bases-loaded walk to Yordan followed by a Rutschman grand slam. Hardy was 4-4 with a solo homer and Pino 3-5 with his 2-run shot. The victory put the Rays one win away from clinching a bye.
Game 3: 8-2 W. WP-Vargas (7-1). Starter-Salazar (4 4 1 1 1 5). HR-Gurrola (6), K.White (18/49), Y.Alvarez (32), Cedillos (9). Lennon was held back for the playoffs in favor of a bullpen day and the gamble paid off thanks to 4 strong innings from Salazar, the bullpen, and a 4th inning which saw Gurrola, White and Yordan homer (the latter two back-to-back). As a result the Rays clinched the 2nd AL bye and will not have to play in the wild card series (Seattle ended up losing today so in the end it didn't matter, but still).
Final Regular Season Record: 101-61. Next up: the ALDS against either WC3 Kansas City or D3 Seattle.
Durham Update: The Bulls bounced back to win Games 3 and 4 at home against Iowa (Game 4 with 2 runs in the 9th to walk it off), so their first-round best-of-7 series is tied at 2 games apiece.
MLB News: Philly's Emerson Hancock pitched a no-hitter against the Mets on the season's final day, fanning 11, walking none and losing a perfect game on a hit batter, all on 115 pitches. The Cardinals also clinched the NL Central by beating Cincinnati in the first of their 3-game set.
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