Rays Beat Guardians 3-1 in ALCS Game 2 as Peralta Dominates, Ramirez Errs
Freddy Peralta threw six scoreless innings and a Jose Ramirez miscue opened the door for three unearned runs, evening the ALCS at 1-1 after Cleveland's Game 1 win.
The Tampa Bay Rays evened the American League Championship Series with a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Two things explain the result: a dominant start from Freddy Peralta and a costly fourth inning for Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez.
The fourth inning that decided it
Game 2 was scoreless with two outs and Victor Mesa Jr. on first when Chandler Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop. Ramirez, shifted toward second on the left-handed hitter, left third base uncovered. Mesa ran all the way to third without sliding.
Four pitches later, Ben Williamson hit a two-hopper that skipped off the edge where the turf meets the dirt and went between Ramirez's legs. Mesa scored. Liam Hicks then pulled a slider from Parker Messick for a two-run single and a 3-0 lead.
Ramirez took the blame. He said the surface plays faster at Tropicana Field and that he was playing parallel to the base. "I feel bad because I wasn't able to make that play," he said through an interpreter.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Ramirez "didn't move his feet" and that the Rays "smell blood." He added that his team had sloppy plays to clean up.
Peralta goes heavy on the heater
Peralta, the Rays' trade-deadline acquisition, allowed four singles and struck out six. It was the longest postseason outing of his career. Of his 99 pitches, 71 were four-seam fastballs, including a 99.4 mph pitch to Jo Adell that was the fastest of his big league career.
Cleveland went 3-for-17 against the four-seamer, and only three of its 14 batted balls against it were hard hit. Peralta put 51 of those fastballs in the top third of the zone or higher. Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan said that when Peralta wants to, he puts one "a ball above," which makes it hard to lay off.
Rays manager Kevin Cash lamented afterward that the pregame "Fastball Freddy" billing may have tipped off the opposition. It didn't help Cleveland.
Peralta reached 97 mph 29 times, up from a career-best 20 in his division series start against the Yankees. He joined Tampa Bay after a 4.99 ERA with the Mets and was the AL Pitcher of the Month for September.
Background: Ramirez's big week
Ramirez had three hits and scored twice in Game 1. He homered in Games 4 and 5 of the division series as Cleveland came back from a 2-0 deficit. Game 1 itself was a comeback: the Guardians trailed 2-0 before scoring from the sixth inning on.
What happens next
The series is now a reset at 1-1, with Game 3 next. The sources reviewed do not give the Game 3 start time, venue or probable starters, so check the official MLB schedule before you tune in. Cleveland will want to tighten its defense, while the Rays will look to repeat the pitching and run prevention that carried Game 2.
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Quick answers
What is the ALCS score after Game 2?
The series is tied 1-1. Cleveland won Game 1, 7-3, and Tampa Bay won Game 2, 3-1.
Were the Rays' runs earned?
No. The error by Ramirez led to three unearned runs in the fourth inning, which gave Tampa Bay its 3-0 lead.
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