Rays Sweep Yankees, Advance to ALCS With Dramatic Game 3 Victory

The Tampa Bay Rays are moving on to the American League Championship Series. 

The team swept the New York Yankees in three games after taking down the Bronx Bombers 4-3 at Yankee Stadium in Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday night. Just 15 days after clinching the American League East title on the very same field, the Tampa Bay Rays will now advance to the ALCS and are only four wins away from competing for the World Series. 

Here's what you need to know from the contest. 

The Rays found a way to get to Max Fried twice during Game 3 of the ALDS, and that was enough to steal the victory. Fried went 5.2 innings of work, allowing seven hits and striking out seven Tampa Bay batters, but he also gave up a home run to both Ryan Vilade and Victor Mesa Jr. 

Vilade homered to right field in the top of the fourth inning. His solo shot gave Tampa Bay an early 2-1 lead. However, it was Victor Mesa Jr.'s homer to right-center field that put the Rays up for good and helped them move on to the next round of the postseason. Mesa's home run went 401 feet to right-center field and ultimately was the thing that chased Fried out of the game. 

Following a solid performance from Nick Martinez, Griffin Jax took the ball in relief for Tampa Bay. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Anthony Volpe hit what appeared to be a home run to tie the game. However, after umpire review, the home run was overturned due to fan interference. That call ultimately didn't allow New York to pick up their fourth and tying run and was the final straw to send Aaron Boone and his team packing and eliminate them from the playoffs. 

Overall, Kevin Cash used six pitchers in the series-clinching victory, and they combined to allow only seven hits, three walks, and an astonishing 12 strikeouts against the Yankees. 

After waiting for the winner of the wild card round, the Rays once again will have time off before their next series. Tampa Bay will wait 4 full days before Game 1 of the ALCS kicks off on Monday, October 12. 

They still await their opponent as the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox will play Game 4 of their ALDS on Thursday. Chicago currently leads the series 2-1. If required, game 5 will take place on Saturday evening.