CLEVELAND (AP) — Yandy Díaz has sparked the Tampa Bay Rays to the verge of their first World Collection journey since 2020.
Díaz had three hits, together with a double, and scored the primary run in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians that gave the Rays 3-2 lead within the AL Championship Collection.
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Díaz has hits in seven of eight postseason video games and is batting .314 with 4 doubles, a house run and an .847 OPS because the Rays’ leadoff hitter.
“I am in all probability a bit of biased, however Yandy is one in every of my favourite gamers to look at,” Rays nearer Bryan Baker mentioned. “When he will get going, we’re a special staff with the best way he works at-bats.”
Recreation 6 is Monday at Tropicana Discipline in St. Petersburg, Florida, the place the Rays are 58-27 in the course of the common season and playoffs. A possible Recreation 7 could be Tuesday in the identical stadium.
“Momentum is large on this sport and we have now it — and we’ll maintain it,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca mentioned. “As soon as bats get scorching, they are saying it is contagious and it is true. It carried over from yesterday.”
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Díaz went 5 for 10 within the final two video games with a homer, two RBIs and three runs. The 35-year-old led the AL with 180 hits within the common season and earned his second All-Star choice. He has performed in a franchise-record 33 postseason video games.
“I’ve mentioned it for a lot of seasons, as he goes, we go,” Rays supervisor Kevin Money mentioned. “We discuss leaders on the staff and the way they go about their enterprise. And what he does on the high of our lineup, it ignites all people. He comes up and comes up with a giant hit.”
Díaz doubled in opposition to Parker Messick within the first and scored on DeLuca’s bases-loaded stroll .
“I am simply making an attempt to get on base as a lot as I can, I am not essentially counting the hits,” Díaz mentioned. “A constructive mindset is the most important factor. Simply being aggressive with our pitch choice, simply leaping on good pitches. Each of these issues.”
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