ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Cleveland Guardians erased an early two-run deficit with a relentless late-inning surge Monday night, defeating the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field.
With the victory, Cleveland grabbed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and claimed home-field advantage against a Tampa Bay squad that won 98 games during the regular season, USA TODAY Sports and Yahoo Sports reported.
Late Home Runs Spark Comeback
Tampa Bay jumped ahead immediately in the first inning against Cleveland starter Foster Griffin, pushing across two runs on four hits. Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen held Cleveland scoreless through five frames, running his postseason scoreless streak to 13 consecutive innings, according to Yahoo Sports.
The momentum shifted in the sixth when rookie Chase DeLauter lined an opposite-field solo homer on Rasmussen’s opening pitch of the frame. Patrick Bailey followed in the seventh with another leadoff blast to center field, tying the contest at 2-2 and knocking Rasmussen out of the game after 90 pitches, Yahoo Sports reported.
Cleveland seized control in the eighth against the Tampa Bay bullpen. José Ramírez led off with an infield single and DeLauter doubled, putting runners on second and third. Nathaniel Lowe, a former Ray, delivered a line-drive single up the middle to drive home both runners and put the Guardians ahead 4-2, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Cedric Mullins pulled Tampa Bay within a run in the home half of the eighth with a solo home run, but Cleveland pulled away in the ninth. Ramírez plated a run with a two-out single, and Jo Adell capped the night with a two-run double down the left-field line. Closer Cade Smith retired the Rays in order in the ninth to close out the victory, USA TODAY Sports reported.
Historic Matchup and Bullpen Control
Ramírez finished 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI, while DeLauter went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and three runs scored, according to Yahoo Sports. After Griffin’s shaky opening frame, six Cleveland pitchers combined to surrender just one run and two hits over the remaining eight innings, USA TODAY Sports reported.
The clash marks a rare financial milestone for postseason baseball. According to ESPN Insights and Spotrac figures cited by EssentiallySports, the Guardians carry a $74.4 million adjusted payroll and the Rays sit at $95.6 million — the two lowest payroll figures in the American League. It is the first time since the Wild Card era began in 1995 that the two lowest-spending teams in a league have met in a League Championship Series, EssentiallySports reported.
Cleveland entered the ALCS after recovering from an 0-2 series deficit to defeat the Chicago White Sox in five games in the division round, Akron Beacon Journal reported. To prepare for the best-of-seven format, the Guardians expanded their pitching staff from 12 to 13 arms by adding Slade Cecconi to the roster and dropping utility infielder Daniel Schneemann, according to the Beacon Journal.
What Comes Next
The series continues Tuesday night at Tropicana Field for Game 2. Cleveland is scheduled to start All-Star left-hander Parker Messick, while Tampa Bay will turn to right-hander Freddy Peralta, according to Yahoo Sports and the Akron Beacon Journal.
