MLB Wildcard: Phillies-Cardinals, more popular games;  Guardians of the top of the rays

The MLB the postseason has officially begun!

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, in the first game of the day with the AL wild card.

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Here are the best plays from Friday’s action.

Phillies vs. Cardinals (Game 1)

Stay tuned for updates.

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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 Tampa Bay Shane McClanahan.

The Rays ended the fourth inning with a monster double play to deal with a 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.

WILL:

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Mariners vs. Blue Jays (Game 1 at 4:07 p.m. ET)

Seattle Mariners

THE SEA

Toronto Blue Jays

TK

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Padres vs. Mets (Game 1 at 8:07 p.m. ET)

San Diego Padres

SD

New York Mets

NYM

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