Guardians Rays: Cleveland Rallies to Win ALCS Opener

Cleveland beat Tampa Bay 7-3 on Monday night at Tropicana Field to win Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, rallying from an early deficit behind a late burst of hitting. Nathaniel Lowe snapped the tie with a two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Guardians added further runs late.

The Guardians Rays series continues Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, with Cleveland holding the early advantage in the best-of-seven matchup. The Rays, who had not trailed at any point in the postseason before Lowe's hit, now need a response at home.

Cleveland erases an early deficit

Tampa Bay built an early lead on RBI singles from Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca in the opening frame off Foster Griffin. Drew Rasmussen held Cleveland scoreless into the middle innings, and the Rays looked in control for much of the night, according to the Associated Press.

Chase DeLauter changed the game with a solo home run in the sixth. Patrick Bailey followed with a tying homer in the seventh, wiping out Tampa Bay's advantage and ending Rasmussen's night.

Cleveland took control from there. Jose Ramirez opened with an infield single off Tyler Wells, and DeLauter ripped a double to right. After Wells retired Jo Adell on a grounder, Ian Seymour entered and Lowe lined a pitch up the middle to drive in a pair of runs, giving Cleveland the lead.

Cedric Mullins answered with a solo homer in the bottom half to trim the deficit to a run. Cleveland responded with three runs in the final frame. Ramirez drove in a run, and Adell's double stretched the lead further. Cade Smith closed out the win with a perfect ninth.

A streaking side meets a rested one

Cleveland has now won four straight postseason games after dropping the first couple of games at home to the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series. It is the club's longest playoff winning run since 2016, when Cleveland opened the postseason with a run of wins on its way to a World Series berth.

Ramirez collected a trio of hits, and DeLauter finished a triple short of the cycle. The Guardians produced 14 hits against a Tampa Bay staff that had allowed just 12 in its entire Division Series sweep of the New York Yankees.

The Rays' evening turned on a managerial call. With relievers ready, Cash sent Rasmussen back out to start the next frame, and Bailey greeted his opening pitch with the tying homer. The decision left Tampa Bay chasing the game, and the bullpen could not hold the line. Cash later said his players would respond in the next game after their opening loss of the postseason.

Cleveland's bullpen combined for five innings while allowing a single run to keep the game within reach after the early deficit. Hunter Gaddis earned the win with scoreless relief work, while Wells took the loss for Tampa Bay.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said his side had been punched early and credited the pitching staff for stopping the damage and keeping the game close until the offence came alive. Rays manager Kevin Vogt's opposite number had little to offer in response beyond a promise that Tampa Bay would answer back.

What happens next

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Rookie left-hander Parker Messick starts for Cleveland, and right-hander Freddy Peralta takes the mound for the Rays. Tampa Bay will look to split its home games before the series shifts to Cleveland. Cleveland will host the middle games of the series, while Tampa Bay needs a road win to regain the advantage.

Monday night also saw Milwaukee take a commanding lead over the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, while the Valkyries swept into the WNBA Finals. The Guardians Rays series, though, is the matchup that heads into Tuesday with everything still to play for.

For Tampa Bay, the task is to rediscover the pitching that carried the club through the Division Series. For Cleveland, the aim is to take a firm grip on the series before heading home. The next game will show which side adjusts faster.

Sources: Associated Press report on the Guardians' win over the Rays and Legends on Deck's recap of the ALCS opener. Related: Milwaukee took a commanding lead over the Dodgers in the NLCS and the Valkyries swept into the WNBA Finals.