The New York Yankees are headed home for the winter, completely swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a stunning ALDS defeat, while the Los Angeles Dodgers sent the Atlanta Braves packing to advance to the NLCS. It was a wild Wednesday across the league, with four potential Division Series clinchers that saw two teams advance and others fighting to keep their seasons alive. This was the last day with four games this postseason, so if you blinked, you missed some serious action.
Rays’ Unexpected Bombshells Silence The Bronx
The Tampa Bay Rays finished their three-game sweep over the Yankees with a 4-3 victory in Game 3, and honestly, nobody saw it coming, especially not with the power surge they got. Everyone thinks of MVP candidate Junior Caminero, who crushed 42 homers in the regular season, or Jonathan Arando and Yandy Díaz, who each had 22 bombs. But in the series clincher? It was all about Victor Mesa Jr. and Ryan Vilade.
These guys ranked fifth and seventh on the Rays in home runs this season, but let’s be real, they’re not the usual suspects for a series-ending power explosion. Yet, that’s exactly what they did to the Yankees. First up, Vilade broke a fourth-inning tie, going yard to the opposite field off a 2-1 Max Fried fastball. Statcast even said that dinger would’ve been a home run in six of 30 MLB parks. Then, with the game tied again in the top of the sixth, Mesa Jr. absolutely annihilated a first-pitch sweeper from Fried to deep right center. He knew it was gone, and that made it a 4-2 lead. The Yankees clawed one back, but it wasn’t enough. The Rays are off to the ALCS!
Dodgers Roll, White Sox Stumble, And The Brewers Fight On
Over in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers took care of business against the Atlanta Braves, winning Game 4 by a score of 4-1 to clinch their series 3-1. They’re moving on to the NLCS, looking absolutely locked in. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers are still trying to close out their series against the San Diego Padres, leading that one 2-1. They’re just one win away from joining the Dodgers.
On the American League side, the Chicago White Sox suffered their first loss of the playoffs, getting clobbered 9-3 by the Cleveland Guardians. That win staved off elimination for Cleveland, and now the White Sox only lead that series 2-1. No sweep for Chicago, and they’ve got to regroup fast.
Volpe’s Unlucky Night In A Lost Cause
When you look at the Yankees getting swept, it’s easy to point fingers, but Anthony Volpe was maybe the best Yankee on the field in Game 3, right there with Ben Rice. He played hard. The fan interference wasn’t his fault, but man, did it sting. It’s a tough break to be a standout performer when your team is getting sent home for the winter.
With the Dodgers and Rays punched into the Championship Series, the focus now shifts to seeing who joins them. The Brewers are trying to close out their series against the Padres, while the White Sox look to bounce back against the Guardians. Two spots are open, and every pitch from here on out is everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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