Thanks to Eric Patterson’s game-winning single in the nightcap of Boston’s day-night doubleheader with the Yankees, the Rays and Yankees are tied for first after 161 games. What else did you expect?
Looking back, the Rays consecutive wins to close their regular season appearance at replica-Yankee Stadium on September 22 and September 23 set up one of those rare baseball moments today. The Rays can hang a banner with a win on the season’s final day because, thanks to those two wins, they hold the tiebreaker in the AL East.
So, Rays win and they are the AL East Champions for the second time in three years, and Kansas City has all winter to clean up the visitor’s clubhouse.
Also, a Rays win (or a Rays loss and a Yankees loss) means it will be party time at the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport. If the Rays lose and the Yankees win, the Rays will fly directly to Minnesota tonight. So. I will see you all at the airport.
Little tidbit from the game story from last night on ESPN.com:
“The Rays used eight pitchers in their 4-0 win over the Royals. It’s the most pitchers used in Major League history for a combined shutout that went exactly 9 innings. The previous record was seven pitchers by Texas (at Anaheim) on 9/18/2004.”
Good luck to both our teams today…. oh wait, that would mean the Rays still win the East. Ok, only good luck to the Yankees.
Very cool. More proof that Joe Maddon isn’t afraid to re-invent the wheel in unique situations — a game the Rays both needed to win and needed to use to rest some guys for the playoffs.