(Newswire.net — October 4, 2019) — Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz has played in just one game since late July, his breakout season almost ruined by a leg fracture. He was not a sure bet to make the Postseason roster, let alone start.
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So, when he led the American League wild-card game to 54,005 fans on Wednesday it would have made sense for Diaz to feel nervous, perhaps a little worried that his swing might not be ready for such a big moment. Well, Diaz has dealt with a lot more effort situations than just a playoff game. The Cuban exile replaced Oakland A’s left-hander Shawn Manaea to start the game, then repeated two innings later to set the tone for a 5–1 victory that sent the Rays into the division series.
Later, Diaz recalled playing at Series National in Cuba, where he said some fans would bring knives and matches to the game. And it felt even more dangerous to play winter ball in Venezuela, especially the heated game between bitter rivals Caracas – his team – and Magellan. Yandy Diaz hits two home runs to lead the offense. Yandy Diaz hits two home runs to lead the offense. (Photo: Darren Yamashita, USA Today Sport) “In Venezuela, if you make an error, maybe someone will shoot you. Once you come here, the pressure goes away, “Diaz said in Spanish. “Even if there were 100,000 people in the stand, I still have no problem. There is more pressure in Cuba than here. There is also a lot of pressure in Venezuela. I felt like any other game.
It was certainly not for many of his teammates, who Tampa Bay registered in the finals to secure a spot in the Division Series against the Houston Astros, then dosed beer and champagne at the clubhouse with Diaz and each other.
It was the Rays’ first trip to the postseason since 2013, and they went on to combine power surges – Avicel Garcia and Tommy Phan – with starter Charlie Morton’s five solid innings and stout work from the bullpen.
The game had two of baseball’s ugly sisters, small budget teams with often absentee fan bases, and perhaps the two worst stadiums in the tomb. But they were led by front offices that showed a knack for maximizing their resources and finding unseen gems.
Bob Melvin, a manager whose team was eliminated in a game after a 97-win season, knows how tough the Rays are.
“The Rays match up with anyone in baseball,” Melvin said. “They use their entire 25-roster. He has great starting pitches; he has a great bullpen, which matches well. So they are going to give a problem to any team.