Arozarena, Rays top Astros 4-2 in Game 7, reach World Series

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Remarkable rookie Randy Arozarena homered again, 36-year-old Charlie Morton was brilliant against his former team and the Tampa Bay Rays reached the World Series for the second time, silencing the Houston Astros 4-2 Saturday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.

The Rays will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Atlanta Braves in the World Series in Arlington, Texas, starting Tuesday night. Game 7 of the NLCS is Sunday night.

Tampa Bay’s only other World Series appearance was in 2008, when it lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.

The innovative Rays led the AL with a 40-20 record in the pandemic-shortened season. Known for their pitching and defense, they also introduced the concept of the starter and sometimes deploy a four-man outfield.

“You sit here and look at this group of guys, and I always say we don’t have a lot of household names, but at the same time, people are making a name for themselves right now," said outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay's longest-tenured player. "And if you don’t know the name by now, they better learn them, because we’ve we got some boys who can play.”

Right fielder Manuel Margot squeezed Aldemys Diaz's flyball in his glove for the final out and fireworks burst over the empty ballpark as the fun-loving Rays began to celebrate.

Arozarena was chosen as the ALCS MVP and did Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous goal celebration dance.

Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing streak and prevented the Astros from matching the 2004 Boston Red Sox, the only major league team to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series.

The Rays also kept the Astros from becoming the first team to win a pennant with a losing regular-season record (29-31).

The loss ended Houston's first season since its...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Arozarena-Rays-top-Astros-4-2-in-Game-7-reach-15656051.php