March 28, 2024

Rays win playoff; will face Indians Wednesday

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — David Price, Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays are going to the playoffs again, getting there with a victory in their final regular-season game for the second time in three years.

They needed an extra game this time.

Price threw his fourth complete game of the season, Longoria hit a two-run homer and the Rays beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 in the AL wild-card tiebreaker Monday night, the 163rd game for both teams.

The Rays face another must-win situation Wednesday night at Cleveland in the AL wild-card game — the winner faces Boston in the division sries.

Nelson Cruz was activated for the Texas Rangers after completing his 50-game drug suspension. Cruz, who had 27 homers and 76 RBIs in 108 games before his suspension, was 0 for 4 with a strikeout while hitting sixth as the designated hitter.