The Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 at Progressive Field on Thursday to take a 2-1 series lead in the ALCS. Petey Halpin hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Gavin Williams held the Rays to two runs on two hits over five innings, striking out nine, and the Cleveland bullpen closed it out by allowing just one hit over the final four frames. Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in four innings, and Chandler Simpson drove in both Rays runs with a two-run triple in the fourth.
Takeaways From Guardians’ Win Over Rays
Halpin’s homer off the bench was the difference
Cleveland trailed 2-1 heading into the fifth after Simpson’s triple scored Yandy Diaz and Victor Mesa Jr. two innings earlier. Halpin answered immediately with a 385-foot homer to right center, putting the Guardians ahead 3-2 for good.
Williams and the bullpen combined for 13 strikeouts
Williams struck out nine Rays hitters over five innings while allowing just two hits, improving to 2-0 this postseason with a 2.16 ERA. Four Cleveland relievers, Daniel Espino, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and closer Cade Smith, combined for four more strikeouts and did not allow a run, with Smith picking up his second save of the series.
Tampa Bay’s offense managed just three hits
The Rays struck out 13 times as a team and managed only three hits in the loss. Outside of Simpson’s triple and a Diaz double, Tampa Bay’s lineup was held in check, going 0-for-4 from Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero and Liam Hicks each.
Player Of The Game: Petey Halpin
Halpin went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored, delivering the decisive blow in the fifth inning. His homer erased a one-run deficit and gave Cleveland a lead it would not relinquish.
Guardians Vs. Rays By The Numbers
Cleveland out-hit Tampa Bay 6-3 despite being out-pitched in total walks allowed by one. The Guardians struck out 13 Rays batters compared to eight by Tampa Bay pitching. Jose Ramirez reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Williams worked five innings compared to four from Jax, and Cleveland’s bullpen did not allow an earned run across its final four innings of work.
What’s Next
Game 4 comes next with Cleveland holding a 2-1 series lead. The Rays must win to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole, while the Guardians look to move within one win of the World Series.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
