This past Monday the Rays had their first home playoff game in six years. Tampa Bay filled the stands to watch their home team take on the Houston Astros in their third game of the 2019 American League Division series. With hopes that the Rays’ run was not over they will get to see the Rays move on.

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According to ESPN, the Astros beat the Rays the first two games with a pair of pitchers, Verlander and Cole. Together, they only let the Rays get one unearned run and only five hits. Combined they had 23 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings.

It is not often that you see teams recover from losing the first two out of five games. In the past 25 years there have been 5 teams to win the American League Division series after going 0-2 in the start. In 2017 the Yankees beat the Indians. In 2015 the Blue Jays beat the Rangers. In 2003 the Red Sox beat the A’s. In 2001 the Yankees beat the A’s. In 1999 the Red Sox beat the Indians. In 1995 Mariners beat the Yankees. 

After going 0-2 the Rays came out and best the Houston Astros with a score of 10-3. This was a must win game for the Rays to continue on and play another game. Tomorrow, they play their fourth game of the American League Division series at Tropicana field. If they score another win, they go back to Houston for their fifth and final game.

The Rays had four home runs this game, which is a franchise post season record. Kevin Kiermaier started the rally at his first at bat in the third game. Kiermaier hit a three-run home run in the second inning. Ji Man Choi added another run to lead the Rays with a score of four to nothing. Brandon Lowe hit one to left field and William Adames hit a change up for the fourth and final home run of the game.

 This was the Rays’ last chance to continue to play and they pulled through. They play the Houston Astros again on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:00 p.m.