The Tampa Bay Rays are the final team to clinch the 2020 American League Championship Series (ALCS) and just Championship Series in general after defeating the New York Yankees. In a tight game, the Rays were boosted by a late-game home run from Mike Brosseau to take a 2-1 lead over the Yankees.
The Rays are heading to the ALCS! #CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/lNJiQm1rSY
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2020
In an exceptional pitching match-up, the Rays sent Tyler Glasnow to the mound with it all on the line, and the Yankees would send Mr. $324 million, Gerrit Cole, to the mound. The Yankees bullpen, more specifically Aroldis Chapman, would be the reason they lost, whereas the Rays bullpen could lock things down besides the home run that Nick Anderson gave up to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
In game one, the Yankees would take a 1-0 series lead after a 9-3 rout of the Rays. In game two, though, the Rays would win 7-5 to tie things up. Game three saw the Rays go up 2-1 in the series after an 8-4 victory. The Rays could not finish it off in game four as the Yankees would force game five after a 5-1 victory. But as mentioned above, the Rays would get the job done.
The Rays will move on to face the Houston Astros, who defeated the Oakland Athletics in a battle of the American League (AL) West to punch their ticket to the 2020 ALCS. The Astros on their revenge tour and the Rays looking to carry their success in 2020 to a World Series appearance should make for a fun series.
That being said, all of the Championship Series match-ups are now set and ready to go, four teams remain and only two will advance to the World Series in the Major League Baseball postseason bubble.
