Guardians and Rays split in Tampa; ALCS moves to Cleveland tied 1-1

The American League Championship Series heads to Cleveland tied at a game apiece after the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Guardians 3-1 on Tuesday. Games 3, 4 and 5 are at Progressive Field, starting Thursday. ^[1][2]

In Game 1 on Monday, Cleveland trailed for six innings before home runs by Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey tied it. Nathaniel Lowe's two-run single in the eighth put the Guardians ahead, and a three-run ninth made it 7-3. Tampa Bay, the AL's top seed with 98 wins, had not lost since Sept. 27. ^[2]

Game 2 turned on two plays at third base in the fourth inning. José Ramírez was away from the bag on Chandler Simpson's infield chopper, then misplayed a grounder from Ben Williamson, and all three Tampa Bay runs were unearned. ^[1]

Cleveland reached the ALCS by coming back from an 0-2 deficit against the Chicago White Sox, winning three straight elimination games and clinching 2-0 in Game 5 on Oct. 10. Ramírez homered in Games 4 and 5, and Gavin Williams, who is scheduled to start Game 3, struck out 12 over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the clincher. ^[1][3]