CLEVELAND — The Tampa Bay Rays evened the American League Championship Series on Saturday night, defeating the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 4 at Progressive Field after weather disruptions altered the postseason schedule.
The victory ties the best-of-seven series at 2-2, ensuring the matchup will head back to Florida for Game 6 regardless of Sunday’s outcome, according to the Associated Press. The winner of the pennant will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers to capture the National League title.
Weather delays create grueling stretch
Inclement weather disrupted the ALCS throughout the week in northeast Ohio, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Major League Baseball moved up the start time of Game 3 to avoid storms before postponing Friday’s planned Game 4 due to rain.
The postponement pushed Game 4 to Saturday night, where conditions cleared but temperatures dropped into the 40s. Because of the reshuffled calendar, both clubs now face the possibility of playing four consecutive days without an off day if the series extends to a deciding seventh contest, according to the Journal Sentinel.
Before Saturday’s matchup, Cleveland held a 2-1 series lead following a 3-2 victory in Game 3. Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash stayed with 15-game winner Nick Martinez on the mound for the rescheduled Game 4, while the Guardians opened with reliever Shawn Armstrong in a bullpen game, the Journal Sentinel reported.
Series tied heading into Sunday
Tampa Bay took control of Game 4 to produce the 7-3 victory, matching Cleveland’s margin from Game 1, according to AP line scores. The two clubs have alternated wins throughout the matchup: Cleveland won the opener 7-3, Tampa Bay rebounded for a 3-1 win in Game 2, and the Guardians captured Game 3 by a 3-2 tally.
The series continues Sunday, Oct. 18, with Game 5 scheduled in Cleveland. According to the Associated Press postseason ledger, the pitching matchup features Drew Rasmussen (1-0) for the top-seeded Rays against Parker Messick (0-2) for the second-seeded Guardians.
Television coverage for the remainder of the ALCS is carried on TBS and truTV, with streaming available through Max and Sling, the Journal Sentinel reported. First pitch for Game 5 is slated for late Sunday afternoon.
Brewers await in World Series
Whoever emerges from the ALCS already knows their destination for the Fall Classic. The Milwaukee Brewers secured the National League pennant by sweeping the two-time reigning champion Dodgers in four straight games, concluding the NLCS on Oct. 15, according to the Journal Sentinel and the Associated Press.
Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, in Milwaukee. Game 2 will follow on Oct. 24 before the series shifts to the home ballpark of the American League champion on Oct. 26 for Game 3.
Before those plans can be finalized, the Rays and Guardians must determine who represents the American League. Game 6 will take place Monday, Oct. 19, in St. Petersburg, with a potential Game 7 scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, if necessary.
