Start spreading the news, the Tampa Bay Rays are heading to the ALCS. The Rays finished a sweep of the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS with a 4-3 win on Wednesday night in the Bronx and seemed to enjoy their postgame celebration in the team clubhouse. Tampa Bay Times Rays insider Marc Topkin shared a video of the Rays jamming out to Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" during the festivities.
The iconic song has been a staple at Yankee Stadium for years and plays following every Bronx Bombers home win. After winning the AL East crown for the first time in five years, Tampa Bay saw New York sweep the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card series last week. The Rays then took each of the first two division series contests Tropicana Field before capping the sweep on the road.
Thursday's win was highlighted by a would-be game-tying home run by Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe in the bottom of the sixth inning that was overturned due to fan interference. Tampa Bay will face either the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS. The White Sox lead the Guardians 2-1 in their best-of-five division series, with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday night.
The Rays are still seeking their first World Series title in franchise history, but Thursday marked the second time this decade that Tampa Bay has eliminated New York in the playoffs. The Rays defeated the Yankees in five games during the 2020 ALDS on their way to their most recent appearance in the Fall Classic. New York, meanwhile, has won just one championship since their three-peat from 1998 to 2000.
The Yankees' last World Series title came in 2009 and despite making the postseason 13 times since then, the group has only one AL pennant to show for it. Captain Aaron Judge was sidelined for the entire playoff run this fall due to injury and is still looking for his first World Series ring.
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