Rays Stumble, Need One More Win To Land World Series Trip

SAN DIEGO, CA — The Houston Astros stole the Tampa Bay Rays' chance to claim the World Series berth in Game 4 on Wednesday night as they defeated them 4-3.

Hopes were high for the Rays as they started 3-0 against the Astros in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.

A win for the Rays on Wednesday would have been history as the franchise has only been to the 2008 World Series where they lost against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Rays can still make history and go to the 2020 World Series if they win Thursday night's game since the team is now 3-1 in the best of seven series.

It was hard for the Rays to follow Tuesday night's defense, especially since center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, a star player in Game 3, was pulled from starting lineup shortly before Game 4 started due to a wrist injury caused by a pitch from Enoli Parades.

The Astros' Jose Altuve scored the first run of the game with a home run in the first inning.

The Rays struggled to get players on the bases until the top of the third when Astros pitcher Zack Zienke walked Willy Adames.

Altuve hit an RBI in the bottom of the third inning when Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow threw a high curveball. This allowed Martin Maldonado to score bringing the Astros 2-0.

The Rays finally got a first hit by Austin Meadows in the bottom of the fourth, and scored two runs when Randy Arozarena hit a home run.

Houston's George Springer was the tie-breaker when he hit a homer bringing the score 4-2.

The Rays scored their third run in the ninth inning when Adames hit a ball off the wall.

Game 5 is Thursday at 5:07 p.m. EST on TBS.

Original Patch Story:

The Tampa Bay Rays are one win away from a World Series berth after defeating the Houston Astros 5-2 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series Tuesday.

The Rays are in a 3-0 lead against the Astros in the best-of-seven ALCS in San Diego.

Game 4 starts at 8:40 p.m. ET Wednesday, and can be watched on TBS.

In 2008, the Rays made it to the first World Series for the franchise and lost against the Philadelphia Phillies. If they make it to this year's championship, it will be the second appearance for the team.

In these last three games, the Rays have gotten back at the Astros after Houston pushed them out of the series last season by beating them in Game 5 of the 2019 American League Division Series 3-2.

Wednesday night's projected starting lineup for the Rays include some of the team's best players.

The starting Rays pitcher for Game 4 is Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow went 5-1 with a 4.08 earned run average during the regular season. He has gone 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA in three playoff starts this year. The Rays have won the last 11 straight games he has started.

Kevin Kiermaier is starting center fielder, who showed Gold Glove defense skills in Tuesday night's game in the first inning as he made a running high jump and caught a fly ball hit by Astros Alex Bregman, and in the third inning when he made another run-saving grab off of a base hit from Carlos Correa.

For the rest of the lineup, visit the Tampa Bay Rays.