ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Díaz’s guarantee that the Tampa Bay Rays would win Game 6 of the AL Championship series didn’t turn into bulletin-board material.
The Rays led the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and had a chance to close it out Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise's 29 seasons.
Díaz, who had three hits in a 3-1 victory Sunday, was asked after that game how he looked at the opportunity to go back to the World Series.
“It’s a great opportunity. All of us are thinking of it. But it all ends (Monday). We’re going to win (Monday),” Díaz said through an interpreter.
It wasn’t quite like Joe Namath’s guarantee that the New York Jets would win Super Bowl 3.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt wasn’t even aware Díaz made those comments.
“He did that? He said that? I literally have no idea what you’re talking about,” Vogt said Monday. “I’m sure our guys saw it and they know about it.”
Asked if the comments are more motivating or blown out of proportion, Vogt said: “Probably somewhere in the middle of that. The thing I love about our guys, we worry about us, we focus on us. If that gives our guys a little more motivation, great.”
The Guardians face elimination. That's enough motivation. They won three straight games after falling behind the Chicago White Sox 0-2 in the AL Division Series.
“We’re all competitors. It would be kind of worrying if you didn’t feel that way. We think we’re going to win the game as well,” Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan said. “But he’s confident, we’re confident. Hopefully he’s wrong. Hopefully we can come out with the win today.”
The 35-year-old Díaz, who is from Cuba, began his major league career with Cleveland in 2017 and joined the Rays in 2019. He helped them reach the World Series in 2020, when they lost in six games to the Dodgers.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
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/David J. Phillip)
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 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)
NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Durzi scored 78 seconds in, Dylan Garand made 29 saves and the New York Rangers defeated the travel-weary Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Monday night to improve to 6-0-0 at home this fall.
The Rangers did not pick up their sixth victory at Madison Square Garden last season until Jan. 26, their 23rd game there. They lost 27 of 41 at home on the way to missing the playoffs and finishing last in the Eastern Conference.
There is hope of a turnaround given this start, even missing franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin for the rest of the season. Garand was making a fifth consecutive start since Shesterkin went down, and he has allowed two or fewer goals in nine of 10 NHL appearances dating to his debut last spring.
He got support early and often, with Durzi's goal making it three home games in a row where the Rangers have a goal in the first two minutes. That has only happened once before for New York, in March 1989.
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice, captain J.T. Miller and Gabe Perreault each had a goal and Alexis Lafrenière recorded two assists. Pavel Dorofeyev, the team's most notable trade acquisition over the summer, came close on several occasions but remained stuck on two goals for the season.
Putting goalie Ville Husso in a tough spot with sloppy play, the Ducks looked every bit like a group that endured a 15-hour, delay-filled travel ordeal to the East Coast from southern California. They did not arrive at their hotel until 2:30 a.m., were on the ice for their morning skate less than nine hours later and were getting shut out until scoring twice in the final 70 seconds.
Ducks: Lukas Dostal is expected to start in net for the second half of their New York back-to-back set, Tuesday night at the Islanders.
Rangers: Visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.
See AP’s full NHL coverage here
New York Rangers' Marcus Pettersson (26) defends Anaheim Ducks' Nikita Klepov (40) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Rangers' Sean Durzi (5) skates toward his bench after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso, right, protects the net from New York Rangers' Gabe Perreault, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Rangers' Sean Durzi (5) celebrates with teammate Pavel Dorofeyev (16) after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Rangers' Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal as Anaheim Ducks' Cutter Gauthier (61) skates away during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
