The MLB the postseason is officially in full swing.
The 12-team expanded playoffs began Friday with eight teams competing in a best-of-three wild-card series.
The Cleveland Guardians led Tampa Bay Rays2-1, and Seattle Mariners to close Toronto Blue Jays, 4-0, in two AL wild-card games Friday. elsewhere, Philadelphia Phillies accomplished a stunning victory over St. Louis Cardinals6-3, on the afternoon in the first wild-card game in the NL.
Next, San Diego Padres face to New York Mets in Friday’s second NL wild card game.
Here are the best plays from Friday’s action.
Mariners 4, Blue Jays 0 (Game 1)
Immediately!
Sailors wasted no time getting on board in this one. Third base Eugenio Suarez doubles to right field, carrying Julio Rodriguez for Seattle’s first score of the day in the top of the first inning.
Get out of here
Then, the catcher of sailors Cal Raleigh hit a two-run home run to give Seattle a 3-0 lead.
He is the first player in Mariners history to hit a home run in his first career postseason at bat.
Another one!
The Mariners added another run in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 4-0.
The Blue Jays were never able to get the momentum going and were easily shut out at home. Seattle Ace Luis Castillo allowed six hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings to give the franchise its first playoff win in 7,657 days — the last coming on Oct. 20, 2001, in Game 3 of the ALCS vs. Yankees).
On the topic: MLB wild card teams release 26-man rosters
Phillies 6, Cardinals 2 (Game 1)
A fan favorite
Cardinals star Albert Puholz received a standing ovation when he took the plate Friday to start his final playoff streak.
Posting points
Things were scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Cardinals got their first baseman Juan Yepes homered to left field, resulting in a Dylan Carlson with him. Just like that, St. Louis took a 2-0 lead.
When it rains, it pours
The Cardinals were three outs away from making a deal, but the Phillies had other plans. Alec Bohm was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing JT Realmuto score to put Philly up by one.
Jean Segura followed with a single to right, scoring the run Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper.
The Phillies tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the inning to win 6-3 and stun Cardinals fans and players. It was the Phillies’ first playoff win in 4,021 days, the last win coming on October 4, 2011 in Game 3 of the NLDS against … St. Louis.
The Phillies score six runs in the ninth inning to take Game 1
The Phillies scored six runs in the ninth inning amid a Cardinals disaster to win Game 1 of their wild-card series 6-3.
On the topic: 2022 MLB Playoffs: FOX Sports experts pick the winners of each series
Sentinels 2, Rays 1 (Game 1)
All efforts
Both teams got off to a strong start in Cleveland, where a a pitcher’s duel unfolded over the first four innings, which featured seven combined strikeouts between the Guards Shane Bieber and rays Shane McClanahan.
Tampa Bay ended the fourth inning with a monster double play to get out of the bases-loaded jam.
Go, go, go!
Rays center fielder Jose Siri hit a solo homer to get Tampa Bay on the board first in the sixth inning.
Jose Siri’s home run gives the Rays a 1-0 lead against the Guardians.
Jose Siri opened the scoring in the postseason with a home run to right-center field to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 lead over the Cleveland Guardians.
Answer
Cleveland responded immediately as a third baseman Jose Ramirez crushed a two-run homer to give the Sentinels a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was a lead they would hold until the end.
Jose Ramirez’s two-run homer gives Guardians 2-1 lead over Rays
Jose Ramirez gave the Cleveland Guardians a huge boost after blasting a two-run homer to right-center field that gave them a 2-1 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.
On the topic: MLB Odds: Every Team’s 2022 World Series Playoff Odds, Ranked Worst to First
Padres vs. Mets (Game 1 at 8:07 p.m. ET)
On the topic: The San Diego Padres are essentially a fantasy team. Is it good?
On the topic: The Mets are hoping that the return of Starling Marte can give the Wild Card attack a boost
Stay tuned for updates.
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to stay updated on games, news and more