ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Cleveland Guardians used the small ball, long ball and played solid all-around baseball to keep winning in the playoffs.
Nathaniel Lowe broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single after Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey homered against Drew Rasmussen, and the Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night.
After losing the first two games at home to the Chicago White Sox in their AL Division Series, Cleveland has won four straight postseason games for the first time since winning its first six postseason games in 2016 en route to a World Series berth.
“It feels good to see balls drop, to see guys go up on the barrel, to see guys have good at-bats, because the first two games of the White Sox series we got beat. We did it,” Lowe said. “We had to put our backs against the wall and do something crazy, and this group did it. It’s nice to feel some momentum coming here and win the first game.”
Jose Ramírez had three hits and DeLauter was a triple away from the cycle as the Guardians had 14 hits against a Tampa Bay staff that allowed just 12 in its entire Division Series against the New York Yankees.
Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca had RBI singles in the first and Cedric Mullins hit a solo homer for the Rays, who never trailed during their three-game sweep of the Yankees.
“It’s been a while since we lost, so I think that’s a good thing, and I know the guys will come back and respond tomorrow,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.
Game 2 is Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Rookie left-hander Parker Messick starts for Cleveland and right-hander Freddy Peralta takes the mound for the Rays.
Five relievers combined for five one-run, two-hit innings for the Guardians, who became just the 11th team to overcome an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series with a victory over the White Sox on Saturday night.
Hunter Gaddis worked a scoreless seventh for the win. Cade Smith, who pitched in all five games against Chicago, threw a perfect ninth.
“Obviously we came out of an emotional series and had a quick turnaround. But these guys are ready to play every day. We couldn’t be more proud of them,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “We took some hits early. And our pitchers, credit to them, for stopping it and keeping us in the game as long as they did. And the offense came alive.”
Rasmussen took a 2-0 lead in the sixth before DeLauter led off with an opposite-field homer to left center. Bailey led off the seventh with a towering shot to center that flew 436 feet, ending Rasmussen’s night.
Rasmussen had no hits in the eighth of Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees.
Ramírez opened the eighth with an infield single against losing pitcher Tyler Wells, and DeLauter hit a double to right. After Wells retired Jo Adell on a grounder to second, Ian Seymour entered. Lowe lined an 0-2 pitch up the middle to score two, giving Cleveland a 4-2 lead.
Lowe made his major league debut with Tampa Bay in 2019 and won a World Series with Texas in 2023.
“I love coming back here, I really do,” Lowe said. “It’s nice to see familiar faces on the other side.”
Mullins connected with Erik Sabrowski for a solo shot in the bottom half.
Ramírez, whose two-run homer lifted Cleveland to a 2-0 victory in Game 5 against Chicago, provided an insurance run with an RBI single in the ninth against Cole Sulser.
Ramírez then helped the Guardians get two more by going third with two outs and two strikes on Adell. Caminero ran to cover the bag and was out of position when Adell hit a sharp grounder to third. The ball rolled into left field for a two-run double.
A crowd of 35,361 fans waved yellow rally towels and rang bells at the Trop as Tampa Bay made its third ALCS appearance in the franchise’s 29-season history.
They were excited when the 98-win Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first and Rasmussen fought to maintain it until the sixth.
After that dominant performance against the Yankees, Rasmussen had six tough innings. The two-time All-Star right-hander, who was four outs from a hit in a 1-0 win over New York, allowed one hit to the second batter he faced and eight total, striking out seven.
Guardians starter Foster Griffin allowed two runs and five hits in four innings.
The Rays helped Rasmussen with exceptional defense.
Nick Fortes kicked out Ramírez who was trying to steal second place in first. Caminero made a great play to retire Adell on a hard bouncer at third. Caminero jumped the ball with his backhand and threw a powerful throw to first.
The Guardians had a runner on first with one out at third when second baseman Ben Williamson robbed DeLauter of a base hit that prevented a first and third jam. Williamson, who was not on the ALDS roster, dove on DeLauter’s sharp grounder, got up and threw him out.
Rays shortstop Taylor Walls was 0 for 3 and left six runners on base. He struck out with the bases loaded to end the first, lined out with a runner on fourth, and grounded out with runners on first and second to end the sixth.
Messick took the loss in Game 1 of the AL Division Series, allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings. He pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief in a Game 4 win, allowing two runs. Messick had 11 strikeouts in his two appearances. He was 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA in the regular season.
Peralta allowed one run and three hits in 4 2/3 innings in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Yankees. He was 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts after joining Tampa Bay at the trade deadline. Peralta was 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA for the Mets this season.
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