Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash made several controversial decisions in the World Series Game 3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, who won 10-1 on Monday. The biggest managerial decision came before the first pitch, when Cash sat out Jonathan Aranda, Liam Hicks, and Richie Palacios.
Aranda, who started all 11 of Tampa Bay's postseason games and entered Game 3 with a .788 OPS in the playoffs, was replaced at first base by Ryan Vilade. Hicks, who had driven in eight postseason runs, including four in the first two World Series games, was replaced by Nick Fortes behind the plate. Finally, Palacios lost his starting spot at second base to Ben Williamson, who had started Game 1.
According to SRQSalt, the decision was baffling because the trio that combined for 17 RBIs while batting .280 in the playoffs was replaced by players who batted .090 with one RBI.
Fans called out Cash for a poor lineup call.
"They have 1 hit lol embarrassing, "one fan wrote.
"That's an Aaron Boone-level blunder. Wow," another fan commented.
Here are more reactions:
With two outs in the fifth inning and Milwaukee leading 2-0, Kevin Cash removed Rays starter Freddy Peralta after the Brewers loaded the bases. The move backfired as incoming reliever Cam Booser allowed a two-run single to Brice Turang, followed by RBI hits from Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt and Sal Frelick.
The RBI single to Turang came off shortstop Taylor Walls, who couldn't field the grounder cleanly, extending the inning.
Peralta, the ALCS MVP, charged five runs in 4.2 innings. If Cash hadn't removed him in the fifth inning, the right-hander could have retired the side and avoided the eight-run inning.
After the game, Cash evaluated Peralta's outing and where the pitcher went wrong.
"Just a little out of sync. I think he felt really good. Tried to power through it a little bit," Cash said via AP News. "Just inconsistencies in and out of the strike zone led to a bunch of really good at-bats by the Brewer lineup."
The latest loss puts the Rays just one game away from losing the World Series to the Brewers. After losing the first three World Series games, the Rays will need to win four straight games to win the championship. The last time an MLB team did so in the postseason was in 2004, when the Boston Red Sox rallied back to win four straight games and beat the New York Yankees in the ALCS.
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