Keys won the 2020 American League East title

Just minutes after falling short in Game 5 of last year’s American League Division A series against the Astros, the message at Rez’s clubhouse was simple: Come back better in 2020 and win the American League East. City Field, with an 8-5 victory over the Mets on Wednesday

Just minutes after falling short in Game 5 of last year’s American League Division A series against the Astros, the message at Rez’s clubhouse was simple: Come back better in 2020 and win the American League East.

With an 8-5 victory over the Mets on Wednesday at City Field, the Rays crowned the first AL East division since 2010 and the third win in franchise history, completing a goal set by the team 11 months ago.

The score of 2b score

“I don’t know if you can ever prepare for such a moment, it’s so special,” said Reese manager Kevin Cash. “I don’t think any of us will fully appreciate anything they’ve got and what they’re doing to get here, maybe for a while. Not only this, but over the years. “

The Rays took the division’s title and home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series, doing the same things that led JOL to the top of the standings. Joy Wendell Scoring started with a solo home run in the second innings. Randy Arozerena Ren બે took a 4-2 lead with a two-run shot in the sixth. Take Brandon, The team’s best offensive player this season, hits a two-run homer from the upper deck to extend the lead to eight. And Arozarena shut things down with the second blast of the night – a big building runs in the ninth.

There was plenty of run support for that Tyler Glasshoe.

Glass was sharp again, allowing two runs on just three hits, making eight runs. Glass has recorded seven or more strikeouts in eight consecutive starts. The next time he takes the mound he will likely be in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series in the Tropicana area.

After being last recorded, the rays ensured a good time while adhering to the required protocols. Rays couldn’t pop the champagne, as they do in a normal year, but they could benefit most from it by popping a conf fatty, silly string and enjoying a socially distant cigar in a visitor dugout.

“I think they wanted to pop something in a sense, and it was competing cannons and silly strings,” said the Rays Center fielder. Kevin Kiermeyer. “We show up in the field every day and we have little kids trapped in adult men’s bodies, and silly string is a perfect way to do that. I think we have to give credit. [home clubhouse manager Ryan Denlinger] For that. “

Steep it into the boys, you’ve got it pic.twitter.com/HvrRJEWYcw

– Tampa Bay Rays – y (@ racebaseball) September 24, 2020

Though different, the celebration certainly gained after going through a tough 60-game season. The team started 7-7 and lost five key pots to season-ending injuries. At one point, Ray had 10 pots on the injured list, the most from any team of majors. They also suffered injuries to Yandi Daz, G-Man Choi and In Stein Meadows, an integral part of the crime.

Combine that with all the protocols in place, especially on the road, and some players around the league have argued that winning this season could be the most difficult task in Major League history. Regardless of the circumstances, the rays found their way to the top.

“This season brings you closer together,” Cash said. “You can’t ask for a group that supports each other more. The guys sound like they are good team players – we have 28 great teammates and a lot who are not able to celebrate here due to injuries and stuff like that. Only a bunch of quality people. ”

Wendell added: “It’s a great achievement to be the champion of this division for the regular season. It’s something that doesn’t come around often, so it’s very special, whether it’s a 60-game or 162-game season. So it’s really enjoyable and we’re really proud of it, and it was another step towards the World Series. “

Things looked very different for the last time the organization hung the AL East banner. The only current player in the organization in 2010 was Kiarmer, who was drafted in the 31st round at the start of the season. Glassno said he was a “stupid” junior in high school at the time. Diego Castillo was not signed and was still working on a farm in the Dominican Republic. Only three players on the 40-man roster were over 21.

On Wednesday, they were all on the same field, celebrating the division title.

“It’s definitely something no one can take away from you,” said Kiermeyer, the team’s longest-serving player. “It’s not a World Series trophy or anything like that, it’s part of it, but it’s not easy. I have been here full time since, dating since 2014, it has always been someone other than us and finally got that crown and it feels great to be on top of the rest of us. ”

Since their inception in 1998, Ray has worked with the stigma of being a small market team in a division consisting of two Yankees and a Red Sox from a traditional powerhouse in the Major.

The Yankees and Red Sox naturally get the most national attention. They have a history, tradition and more importantly, a checkbook that usually allows them to sign high-profile free agents. Rays, on the other hand, works with smart scouting, opportunistic roster moves and base-operations operations staff that no one else has.

It came in an unprecedented season, but there is a new beast in the East, and it lives in St. Petersburg.

“There aren’t a lot of banners that say American League is the East Champion, and there’s going to be something that says next year,” Cash said. “I think we all agree that we want to add to it, but you can’t add to it without getting this, and this was really a big step in the right direction.”

Clean our mess before we go out pic.twitter.com/S9FUyC2VOs

– Tampa Bay Rays – y (@ racebaseball) September 24, 2020