Rays beat Guardians 3-1 behind Freddy Peralta and a costly José Ramírez error to even ALCS
Freddy Peralta threw six scoreless innings, Liam Hicks hit a two-run single right after a José Ramírez fielding error, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Tuesday night to tie the American League Championship Series at one game each.
The result: The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 2 of the ALCS at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Tuesday night, the AP and USA Today reported. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 after Cleveland won Game 1 7-3 on Monday.
The fourth inning: All of Tampa Bay's runs came in the fourth, and all three were unearned, the AP reported. With two outs and runners on, Ben Williamson's grounder went under the glove and between the legs of Guardians third baseman José Ramírez, letting Victor Mesa Jr. score. On the next pitch, Liam Hicks lined a two-run single to right-center to make it 3-0. Mesa had reached base earlier in the inning when a video review overturned what was first ruled a double play, according to the AP and USA Today.
What Ramírez said: "It's a little bit faster here this type of surface," Ramírez said through a translator, according to the AP. "It's frustrating. I feel bad." The AP reported the ball hit the edge where the artificial turf meets the infield dirt.
Peralta's night: Peralta allowed four hits and no runs over six innings, with six strikeouts and two walks, according to the AP's box score. He threw the hardest pitch of his big-league career at 99.4 mph and used his four-seam fastball on 71 of 99 pitches, the AP reported. "It's no secret that I trust in my fastball a lot and it's my best pitch," Peralta said. Acquired from the Mets at the trade deadline, he has allowed one run in 10⅓ postseason innings, USA Today reported.
Cleveland's push: Rookie Chase DeLauter's RBI double in the seventh made it 3-1, but Rays lefty Ian Seymour struck out Jo Adell to strand the tying runs at second and third, USA Today reported. Seymour pitched a perfect eighth, and closer Bryan Baker retired the side in order in the ninth for his fourth save of the postseason, the AP said.
The streak ends: Cleveland had won four straight postseason games for the first time since 2016 before Tuesday's loss, the AP reported. Guardians rookie Parker Messick took the loss after allowing six hits and three unearned runs in five innings.
What's next: The series moves to Cleveland's Progressive Field for Game 3 on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET on TBS, USA Today reported. Right-hander Griffin Jax starts for Tampa Bay, and Gavin Williams is expected to start for Cleveland, according to the AP.
Around the league: In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers carry a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers into Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium on FS1, with Robert Gasser scheduled to face Blake Snell, MLB.com reported.
Sources
- AP via CBS Sports — Freddy Peralta powers Rays past Guardians to even ALCS at 1-1
- USA Today — Rays even up ALCS with Guardians after José Ramírez error: Game 2 highlights
- AP — Freddy Peralta, Liam Hicks lift the Rays to a 3-1 win over the Guardians that evens the ALCS at 1-1
- MLB.com — Brewers-Dodgers NLCS Game 3 FAQ