The Tampa Bay Rays can call in the hounds and piss on the fire. The hunt is over.

The Rays are the first playoff team to bid sayonara

The Rangers' run production consisted entirely of solo homers, but that was enough. Beltre hit three solo homers in his first three at bats.

The Rangers hit only .211 for the series and were outscored 21-16, but none of that matters now. They won 3-1, so they're still playing and they have a clean slate.

The attendance at the game was an embarrassing 28,000. Fifteen of the major league teams averaged more than that during the regular season. The Rays fielded a good team, but were second-last in the majors in attendance, and came pretty darned close to last.