The person who sealed the World Sequence for the Houston Astros in 2017 simply stopped them from making it again, halting a historic ALCS comeback and sending baseball’s villains house with a little bit of poetic justice.

And now it’s the Rays headed to their first World Sequence since 2008, profitable Recreation 7 of the ALCS by the rating of 4-2.

Charlie Morton, a part of that 2017 Astros group that cheated and gained the World Sequence, was excellent on the mound for the Rays, dominating his former group in what was his most vital outing since he closed Recreation 7 of the World Sequence of their uniform.

For all of the baseball followers ready for justice to be served towards the Astros, this may be the closest we’ll get. Getting one sport from the World Sequence once more solely to lose towards a person who has one in all their World Sequence rings? It’s becoming. These Astros made the postseason with a sub-.500 file, with out Justin Verlander and driving an unheralded pitching employees to an October run that may have been essentially the most 2020 twist of the MLB season.

Randy Arozarena, who has been hitting like the perfect baseball participant on the earth recently, homered once more in Recreation 7 — his seventh of the postseason, a rookie file — and the Rays seemed just like the group that rattled off three straight wins to begin this sequence. The Astros had been attempting to finish a comeback that we’d solely seen as soon as earlier than. The 2004 Boston Pink Sox are the one group in historical past to win a seven-game sequence after falling behind 3-0.

The Rays acquired right here by hitting homers, and that’s what labored in Recreation 7. They jumped forward on Arozarena’s two-run blast within the first inning and acquired a solo shot from Mike Zunino within the second (he additionally had a sac fly RBI within the sixth).

The Astros acquired two runs in a tense eighth inning when Carlos Correa knocked a two-run single with the bases loaded. However the Rays escaped with none extra injury. Peter Fairbanks, after beginning out rocky within the eighth, shut down the Astros within the ninth to avoid wasting the sport.

As for Morton, the choice to tug him with two outs within the fifth was criticized by armchair managers on Twitter, however this time — versus supervisor Kevin Money going to his bullpen early in Recreation 6 — it labored out for the Rays. Till that time, Morton had allowed simply two hits and struck out six, with out letting a run cross the plate.

That is Morton’s fourth win in a winner-take-all postseason sport. He already had essentially the most in historical past earlier than this one, having gained Recreation 7 of the 2017 World Sequence and Recreation 7 of the 2017 ALCS for the Astros and the 2019 AL wild-card sport for the Rays.

Randy Arozarena and the Rays superior to the World Sequence by beating the Astros in Recreation 7 of the ALCS. (Picture by Ezra Shaw/Getty Pictures)

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MUST-SEE MOMENT

This has been a must-see postseason for Arozarena and he gave us the must-see second within the first inning — his two-run homer acquired the Rays up early and 9 innings later, proved to be sufficient to ship them to the World Sequence. Watch this angle and simply love the Randy vitality:

Arozarena already owns the rookie house run file for a single postseason. He additionally stands only one behind Derek Jeter for many hits by a rookie in a single postseason. Now that the Rays are shifting on to the World Sequence, he has an excellent probability to take that one too.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Rays are on to the World Sequence for simply the second time in franchise historical past. They are going to play both the Los Angeles Dodgers or Atlanta Braves, who will resolve the Nationwide League Championship Sequence in a Recreation 7 on Sunday. Tampa Bay’s lone World Sequence look got here in 2008. The Philadelphia Phillies gained that sequence in 5 video games.

The Rays are positioned for a greater end result this season. The highest of their beginning rotation is rock strong with Blake Snell, Morton and Tyler Glasnow all able to locking down highly effective offenses like these possessed by the Dodgers and Braves. The bullpen is deep and versatile as properly, which has been a giant benefit with this compact postseason schedule.

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Offensively, the Rays have been led by Arozarena. They will not overpower you with the bats, however they’ve a lineup that may make pitchers earn 27 outs. Most significantly, they will not beat themselves with unproductive outs or pricey errors within the discipline.

The Rays now have gained three days to relaxation, which historical past exhibits won’t be the perfect factor. Since 2006, the group that clinched its World Sequence berth first has gone on to win the World Sequence 3 times. These groups: 2008 Phillies, 2018 Pink Sox and 2019 Nationals.

As for the Astros, they are going to enter the offseason going through numerous uncertainty. Outfielders George Springer, Josh Reddick and Michael Brantley, together with infielder Yuli Gurriel, are all eligible without cost company. As well as, ace Justin Verlander is coming off Tommy John surgical procedure.

Recreation 1 of the World Sequence will happen Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Globe Life Area in Arlington, Texas.

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