CLEVELAND (AP) — Yandy Díaz has sparked the Tampa Bay Rays to the verge of their first World Series trip since 2020.
Díaz had three hits, including a double, and scored the first run in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians that gave the Rays 3-2 lead in the AL Championship Series.
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Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz hits a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz scores on a walk against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Díaz has hits in seven of eight postseason games and is batting .314 with four doubles, a home run and an .847 OPS as the Rays' leadoff hitter.
“I’m probably a little biased, but Yandy is one of my favorite players to watch,” Rays closer Bryan Baker said. “When he gets going, we’re a different team with the way he works at-bats.”
Game 6 is Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Rays are 58-27 during the regular season and playoffs. A potential Game 7 would be Tuesday in the same stadium.
“Momentum is big in this sport and we have it — and we're going to keep it,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca said. “Once bats get hot, they say it's contagious and it's true. It carried over from yesterday.”
Díaz went 5 for 10 in the last two games with a homer, two RBIs and three runs. The 35-year-old led the AL with 180 hits in the regular season and earned his second All-Star selection. He has played in a franchise-record 33 postseason games.
“I've said it for many seasons, as he goes, we go,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We talk about leaders on the team and how they go about their business. And what he does at the top of our lineup, it ignites everybody. He comes up and comes up with a big hit.”
Díaz doubled against Parker Messick in the first and scored on DeLuca's bases-loaded walk .
“I'm just trying to get on base as much as I can, I'm not necessarily counting the hits,” Díaz said. “A positive mindset is the biggest thing. Just being aggressive with our pitch selection, just jumping on good pitches. Both of those things.”
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz hits a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz scores on a walk against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys know they've dug themselves a hole with their slow start.
The Cowboys (2-4) believe they still have what it takes to turn things around.
“We’ve just got to go get a win," Prescott said after the Cowboys' 23-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. "That’s the only way to work our way out of this hole and get momentum going and just to get the confidence and rolling on both sides of the ball, special teams included. We need some good momentum, and the only way to do it is to get a win.”
On a night when the Cowboys’ beleaguered defense finally showed signs of life, their star-studded offense let them down.
Prescott threw two interceptions on back-to-back drives to thwart scoring opportunities in the second quarter. The Cowboys were scoreless in a first half for the first time since Nov. 7, 2021, when they trailed 16-0 at the half of a 30-16 loss to Denver.
Prescott went 34 of 54 for 258 yards. His only touchdown pass – a 6-yarder to Ryan Flournoy – came with 44 seconds left in the game.
“I didn’t plan on coming to this game and throw it 54 times,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “That wasn’t the plan. That’s not a good recipe against this defense that’s been down against the run and pretty good against the pass. So, that wasn’t a good recipe for us. But that’s the way the game turned out.”
The Cowboys trailed 7-0 and faced second-and-8 from Green Bay’s 17 when Prescott took a big hit from Zaire Franklin. On the next play, Evan Williams intercepted Prescott's pass that was intended for CeeDee Lamb.
Dallas trailed 10-0 on its next possession and had first-and-15 from Green Bay’s 28 when Lamb fell on a route, enabling Packers rookie Brandon Cisse to make his first career interception.
“Only leaving the game with 13 points — one of the touchdowns came in trying-to-make-something-happen time, very frustrating,” Prescott said. “But we’ve got to fix it, and all the guys in that locker room are capable of it.”
Dallas’ problems on offense were particularly disappointing because its defense responded to adversity Sunday after struggling all season. The defense’s performance offered at least one reason for hope that the Cowboys can still turn things around, particularly because nobody has stood out in the NFC East so far.
The Cowboys entered this game allowing a league-high 6.4 yards per play and searching for answers after an embarrassing 24-16 home loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dallas’ defense held a players-only meeting to discuss how to improve. The Cowboys also brought in veteran defensive assistant Mike Pettine in the days leading up to this game to help out first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Pettine was Green Bay’s defensive coordinator from 2018-20. Parker was a defensive quality control coach with the Packers from 2019-20.
Dallas’ defense responded, though it got some help when three potential touchdown passes by Green Bay’s Jordan Love were dropped — two by Matthew Golden and one from Christian Watson.
Green Bay took the lead for good with a 90-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession, but Dallas’ defense stiffened from there and produced a number of big plays.
Dee Winters got the Cowboys’ first interception of the season when he made a diving catch in front of Golden late in the first quarter. Winters then got up and weaved between multiple defenders to run over 40 yards for an apparent touchdown, but a replay review determined he was touched by Golden while still on the ground.
Quinnen Williams stopped Pierre Strong Jr. for a 1-yard loss when Green Bay had second-and-goal at the 1 in the second quarter. Malik Hooker then made an open-field tackle after Tucker Kraft caught a pass on third-and-goal, causing the Packers to settle for Trey Smack's 25-yard field goal.
Kenny Clark, who spent his first nine NFL seasons in Green Bay, got his first sack of the season in his return to Lambeau Field.
“We’re making strides, but we’re not where we want to be," cornerback DaRon Bland said of the defense's performance.
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Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott reacts after being hit during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Green Bay Packers' Lukas van Ness stopos Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott during the second half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Green Bay Packers' Evan Williams stops Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott during the second half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers' Evan Williams stops Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott during the second half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
