Cleveland at Tampa Bay

Cleveland at Tampa Bay

This is Missed It. Cleveland at Tampa Bay, Monday, October nineteenth, with the Guardians. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

We are at the ballpark for Game 6 of this seven-game series, and the Cleveland Guardians are looking at a tough spot. We come in at two and three, Tampa Bay sits at three and two, and they lead the series three games to two. This is a big one for us. We need this game to keep the series alive and force that final showdown tomorrow. The Rays have the momentum, but we have the fight. Let's see what we're made of tonight.

Innings 1-3

Top of the first, and we're off. Cleveland sends four batters to the plate, but we can't get anything going. No runs, score stays at zero-zero. Quick work for Tampa Bay's defense, and we're back out there. Bottom of the first, Tampa Bay up. Three batters, no runs. Clean inning for us on the defensive side. Still zero-zero, and we're settling in. Top of the second, we're back at it. Three batters, no runs. Nothing doing for the Guardians offense. We're struggling to find any rhythm at the plate, and Tampa Bay is keeping us quiet. Still zero-zero. Bottom of the second, and this is where things start to shift. Tampa Bay sends eight batters to the plate, and they're putting pressure on us. With one out and two runners on, Jonny DeLuca lines out to center fielder Petey Halpin. Chandler Simpson tags and moves to third. That's a big out for us, but the runner on third is a problem. We're not out of the woods yet. Two outs now, two runners still on. Richie Palacios steps in, and he doubles on a fly ball to right fielder Chase DeLauter. Chandler Simpson scores. Victor Mesa Jr. scores. Just like that, it's two-nothing Tampa Bay. That one hurts. We had the out in hand, and one swing of the bat changes everything. The Rays are on the board, and we're chasing the game now. Top of the third, we need an answer. Five batters come up for Cleveland, but we can't push a run across. Still two-nothing Tampa Bay. The frustration is building. We're getting chances, but we're not cashing them in. Bottom of the third, and Tampa Bay keeps the foot on the gas. No outs, two runners on. Chandler Simpson drops a bunt ground ball to third baseman José Ramírez. Liam Hicks moves to third, Junior Caminero to second. Bases are loaded with nobody out. This is a dangerous spot, and we need a stop. Victor Mesa Jr. grounds into a force out, second baseman Travis Bazzana to catcher Patrick Bailey. Liam Hicks is out at home. Junior Caminero to third, Chandler Simpson to second, Victor Mesa Jr. safe at first. One out, bases still loaded. We escaped the worst of it, but the pressure is still on. One out, bases loaded. Jonny DeLuca comes up again, and he hits a sacrifice fly to left fielder Steven Kwan. Junior Caminero scores. Three-nothing Tampa Bay. We held them to one run in that inning, but we're still down by three, and we haven't scored at all. We need something to change, and fast.

Innings 4-6

Top of the fourth, and we're looking for a spark. Jo Adell leads off and doubles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Chandler Simpson. There's a runner in scoring position with nobody out. This is our chance. Nathaniel Lowe walks, and now we've got two on with nobody out. The crowd is stirring. We're finally putting something together. Travis Bazzana steps in, and he lines out to right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. One out, runners still on first and second. We need a hit here. Patrick Bailey grounds into a double play, shortstop Taylor Walls to first baseman Jonathan Aranda. Nathaniel Lowe out at second, Patrick Bailey out at first. Inning over. We had two runners on with nobody out, and we come away with nothing. Still three-nothing Tampa Bay. That one stings. We had the momentum, and it slipped right through our fingers. Bottom of the fourth, Tampa Bay up. Five batters, no runs. We held them. The defense is doing its job; we just can't get the bats going. Top of the fifth, we try again. Four batters, no runs. Still three-nothing. We're running out of time, and every empty inning feels heavier than the last. Bottom of the fifth, three batters for Tampa Bay. No runs. We're keeping ourselves in this game, but we need a breakthrough. Three-nothing going into the later innings.

The Sequence

Top of the sixth, and we finally break through. With one out and a runner on, Nathaniel Lowe singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Jonny DeLuca. Chase DeLauter scores. Three-one Tampa Bay. We're on the board. That run changes the feel of this game. We're not just hanging on anymore; we're fighting back. Bottom of the sixth, Tampa Bay answers with four batters but no runs. We hold them. Three-one, and we're still within striking distance. Top of the seventh, three batters for Cleveland. No runs. We can't build on that momentum. Still three-one. Bottom of the seventh, and Tampa Bay strikes back. Five batters, two runs. It's five-one now. That's a gut punch. We had pulled within two, and now we're back to chasing a four-run game. Top of the eighth, and we refuse to go quietly. Eight batters come up for Cleveland, and we're putting together a rally. With two outs and the bases loaded, Patrick Bailey walks. Chase DeLauter scores. Nathaniel Lowe to third, Travis Bazzana to second. Five-two. We're chipping away. Two outs, bases still loaded. Angel Martínez steps in, and he's hit by the pitch. Nathaniel Lowe scores. Travis Bazzana to third, Patrick Bailey to second. Five-three. We're right back in this thing. Two runs in, bases still loaded, and we're one hit away from tying this game. But that's where it ends. We can't push another run across. Five-three Tampa Bay, and we're heading to the bottom of the eighth. Bottom of the eighth, and Tampa Bay slams the door. Five batters, two runs. It's seven-three now. That's a four-run lead, and we're running out of outs. Top of the ninth, three batters for Cleveland. No runs. The game is over. Seven-three Tampa Bay.

Wrap-up

Final score, Cleveland three, Tampa Bay seven. The Rays take this one by four, and with it, they clinch the series, four games to two, with one game still to play. Our record drops to two and four, Tampa Bay improves to four and two. It's a tough loss. We fought back in the middle innings, but the hole we dug early was too deep. Tomorrow is the last game of the series, and while the series is decided, we still have pride to play for. We'll be back.

Outro

That was Cleveland at Tampa Bay, from the Guardians side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Cleveland at Tampa Bay

This is Missed It. Cleveland at Tampa Bay, Monday, October nineteenth, with the Rays. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's Game 6 of this seven-game series, and the Tampa Bay Rays are back home with a chance to put this thing away. Cleveland Guardians come in at two and three, and we're sitting at three and two, holding that series lead. The vibe around the ballpark is electric because we know what's at stake here. Win tonight, and we clinch the series with a game to spare. The Guardians have been scrappy all week, but this is our house, and we've got the momentum. Let's see if we can close it out.

Innings 1-3

The game starts quiet, the way these early innings often do. Cleveland sends four batters to the plate in the top of the first, and we send them right back to the dugout. No runs, score stays zero-zero. Our turn in the bottom of the first, three batters, no runs. It's a feeling-out process, both teams getting a read on each other. Top of the second, Cleveland goes down in order. Three batters, no runs. Still zero-zero. And then, in the bottom of the second, things start to stir. One out, two runners on. Jonny DeLuca steps in and lines out to center fielder Petey Halpin. Chandler Simpson tags and moves to third. It's a tough break, a hard-hit ball that just didn't find a gap, but we've still got two on with two outs. And that's when Richie Palacios comes through. He drives a fly ball deep to right field, past Chase DeLauter, and it's a double. Chandler Simpson scores. Victor Mesa Jr. scores. Just like that, it's two-nothing, and this place is on its feet. That's the kind of hit that changes a game, the kind that makes you believe. Cleveland comes back in the top of the third with a little more fight, five batters, but they can't push anything across. Still two-nothing. And then the bottom of the third, we keep the pressure on. No outs, two on. Chandler Simpson drops a bunt down the third base line, a beauty, and José Ramírez has no play. Liam Hicks moves to third, Junior Caminero to second. Bases are loaded with nobody out. Victor Mesa Jr. steps in, and he grounds to second. Travis Bazzana fields, fires home, and they get Liam Hicks at the plate. It's a force out, but Junior Caminero moves to third, Chandler Simpson to second, and Victor Mesa Jr. is safe at first. One out, bases still loaded. Jonny DeLuca comes up, and he lifts a sacrifice fly to left field. Steven Kwan makes the catch, and Junior Caminero tags and scores. Three-nothing. That's how you manufacture runs, folks. That's how you take control of a ballgame.

Innings 4-6

The top of the fourth, Cleveland's got some life. Jo Adell leads off with a sharp line drive double to left field, and Chandler Simpson can't get there. No outs, a runner on second, and you can feel the tension creep in. Nathaniel Lowe works a walk, and now there's two on with nobody out. This is the moment, the hinge of the half. Travis Bazzana steps in, and he lines out to Victor Mesa Jr. in right field. One out. Then Patrick Bailey grounds to short, Taylor Walls to Jonathan Aranda at first, and it's a double play. Nathaniel Lowe is out at second, Patrick Bailey out at first. Inning over. The threat evaporates, and we escape with the three-nothing lead intact. We go down in order in the bottom of the fourth, five batters but no runs. Cleveland gets four batters in the top of the fifth, still nothing. We get three in the bottom of the fifth, nothing. It's one of those stretches where both teams are grinding, but the scoreboard hasn't moved since the third. Three-nothing, and we're holding on.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided. Top of the sixth, Cleveland finally breaks through. One out, a runner on, and Nathaniel Lowe rips a sharp ground ball to center field. Jonny DeLuca can't cut it off, and Chase DeLauter scores. It's three to one, and suddenly the Guardians are right back in it. You can feel the crowd tighten up. We get four batters in the bottom of the sixth, no runs. Cleveland goes down in order in the top of the seventh. Still three to one. And then, bottom of the seventh, we answer. Five batters, two runs, and just like that it's five to one. The lead is back to four, and the air comes back into the building. But Cleveland isn't done. Top of the eighth, they load the bases with two outs. Patrick Bailey draws a walk, and Chase DeLauter trots home. Five to two. Then Angel Martínez gets hit by a pitch, and Nathaniel Lowe scores. Five to three. Two runs in, bases still loaded, and you can hear the doubt creeping in. This is the moment. This is where the game hangs in the balance. Bottom of the eighth, we answer again. Five batters, two runs, and it's seven to three. That's the dagger. That's the one that puts this game to bed. Top of the ninth, Cleveland sends three batters to the plate, and they go down quietly. No runs. Game over.

Wrap-up

Final score, Cleveland three, Tampa Bay seven. We win by four. Our record moves to four and two, Cleveland falls to two and four, and we've clinched the series, four games to two, with one game still to play. It wasn't always pretty, and there were moments where it felt like it could slip away, but we held on, we answered every time they pushed, and we closed it out. That's what this team does. That's what we do.

Outro

That was Cleveland at Tampa Bay, from the Rays side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.