Tampa Bay Rays Clinch First World Series Berth Since 2020 With Win Over Guardians in ALCS

The Tampa Bay Rays are heading to the World Series. 

The team defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to clinch the series 4-2. The win came behind a solid pitching outing and a strong offensive performance from some of Tampa Bay's biggest stars. 

Here is what you need to know from the contest.

After an outstanding Game 2, Freddy Peralta got the start in Game 6 and a chance to put the Rays in the Fall Classic. 

In his third appearance in this season's ALCS, Peralta went 5.1 innings, allowing only one earned run in the top of the sixth inning. He once again gave Kevin Cash and the rest of the Tampa Bay team solid innings, consistent with the entire pitching staff this postseason. 

The bullpen stayed strong as Cam Booser replaced Peralta to finish the sixth, and he was flawless. He carried that into the seventh, going 3 up, 3 down against the Cleveland Guardians' batting order. 

Another trade deadline piece, Tyler Wells, came in to shut down the eighth inning. He picked up two strong outs but also allowed two base runners. Kevin Cash made the decision to go at Ian Seymour to finish the frame, and it nearly backfired. 

Seymour walked two batters and hit one Guardians batter, allowing two runs to score. Cash quickly went with Kevin Kelly as soon as he could. Kelly took care of business, striking out Brayan Rocchio on his first three pitches. 

Bryan Baker came to seal the deal, even though it wasn't a save opportunity, and retired the first three Guardians in order to officially advance his team to the World Series.

For the first time since July of 2017, Guardians reliever Shawn Armstrong pitched on three consecutive days as he got the start as an opener in Game 6. He had a strong first inning, but was quickly removed after base traffic in the second. 

Tim Herrin replaced him, and Tampa Bay took advantage. After both Chandler Simpson and Victor Mesa Jr. reached safely, Richie Palacios hit a 2-out, 2-strike,  2-RBI double to put the Rays ahead 2-0. 

The next inning, they continued to add to their lead once Chandler Simpson loaded the bases on a sacrifice bunt. Following that, Jonny Deluca hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Junior Caminero to extend their lead to three. 

The Rays star slugger, Junior Caminero, shined when it really mattered the most, as he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the Tampa Bay lead to 5-1. 

Yandy Diaz followed with one as well with some much needed insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning pushing the lead to 7-3. His performance over the last few games likely clinched the ALCS MVP award.

Well, the Tampa Rays are heading to the World Series, and they will face the Milwaukee Brewers beginning at America Family Field on Friday. 

The Brewers finished the season with 103 wins and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS to reach the Fall Classic. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 8 pm Eastern.