Rays clinch World Series place with Game 6 win over Guardians

The Tampa Bay Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series after beating the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 on Monday night to seal the American League Championship Series 4-2.

Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit a two-run home run at Tropicana Field, while Freddy Peralta allowed one run over five and a third innings.

The result guarantees a first-time World Series champion. Neither Tampa Bay nor Milwaukee has won the title, with the opening game scheduled for Friday in Milwaukee.

Three straight wins complete the comeback

Tampa Bay trailed the ALCS 2-1 before winning the next three games. The Rays will be making their third World Series appearance, following defeats by Philadelphia in 2008 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.

Richie Palacios put the hosts ahead with a two-run double in the second inning. Caminero then scored on Jonny DeLuca's sacrifice fly in the third, extending the advantage to 3-0.

Cleveland reduced the deficit when Nathaniel Lowe's sixth-inning single brought home Chase DeLauter. Caminero answered in the seventh with his first career postseason home run to make it 5-1.

Díaz responds after Cleveland threatens

The Guardians forced in two runs in the eighth through a bases-loaded walk and a hit batter. Kevin Kelly then struck out Brayan Rocchio with the bases still full to preserve Tampa Bay's 5-3 lead.

Díaz restored the four-run gap with his home run in the bottom of the inning, before Bryan Baker retired Cleveland in order in the ninth.

Peralta was named ALCS most valuable player after earning two wins in the series. Milwaukee secured its place in the World Series by sweeping the defending champion Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Sources

• Rays finish off Guards to set up World Series clash vs. Crew — MLB (2026-10-20)
• Tampa Bay Rays beat Cleveland Guardians to reach MLB World Series — AFP via Philstar (2026-10-20)
• Two-run homers send Rays past Guardians in Game 6, into World Series — Field Level Media (2026-10-20)
• Peralta, Caminero and Díaz lead Rays to 7-3 win over Guardians and a trip to the World Series — AP (2026-10-20)