Rays 3, Astros 4: The series lives on

The Rays, coming off four games in which they went with traditional starters—Blake Snell, Charlie Morton, Ryan Yarbrough and Tyler Glasnow, respectively—opted to hand the ball to John Curtiss to get the first few outs. On the other side, the Astros played a similar game, starting Luis Garcia.

Curtiss opened the game respectably, getting the first four outs albeit after allowing a leadoff homer to the red hot George Springer. Garcia fared better, throwing two scoreless innings for Houston.

The Rays lineup looked a little differently today than in previous games in this series, as the struggling Brandon Lowe hit leadoff. Coincidentally, it was he who tied the game in the third.

Josh Fleming gave the Rays the bulk innings for the Rays, allowing two runs on a single by Michael Brantley. While two runs in three innings may not be an impressive line on the surface, It would be hard for the Rays to ask for much more from the rookie left-hander.

It stayed 3-1 until Randy ‘There goes that man again’ Arozarena cut the lead in half, tying Evan Longoria for most home runs in a single playoff year with 6.

Other than the home runs, though, the Rays bats were quiet. There was traffic on the base paths seemingly every inning, but the Rays never could capitalize on the opportunities, falling victim the the strike out over and over.

But the Rays pitching kept them in the game. Aaron Slegers followed Fleming, and continued his stellar brand of sinker slider pitching for 2.2 innings. Even though the game was close, with the bats so quiet and only six outs remaining, it looked like an uphill batter for the Rays offense.

That is until...

With a tie game, the Rays had new life. Relief ace Nick Anderson entered the game to hold down the ninth and send the game to extras. But just when we got our hopes up, Carlos Correa broke our collective heart when he hit a walk off homer in the 10th.

We will have to wait at least one more day to celebrate the Rays second World Series berth.