Monday, October 12, 2026 — the team that came back from 0-2 kept coming.
The Guardians beat the Rays 7-3 at Tropicana Field on Monday to take Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Tampa Bay, which had not trailed at any point in its sweep of the Yankees, is now behind in a series for the first time this October.
How Cleveland Came Back
The Rays struck first, with Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca each driving in a run in the first inning. Drew Rasmussen then kept Cleveland quiet into the sixth.
That’s when the Guardians’ power showed up. Chase DeLauter hit a solo homer in the sixth, and Patrick Bailey tied it with an estimated 436-foot blast in the seventh, ending Rasmussen’s night after six-plus innings, eight hits and seven strikeouts.
In the eighth, José Ramírez reached on an infield single and DeLauter doubled. Nathaniel Lowe then lined a two-run single to put Cleveland ahead 4-2. Cedric Mullins answered with a solo homer for Tampa Bay, but the Guardians pulled away in the ninth on Ramírez’s RBI single and a two-run double by Jo Adell that got past an out-of-position Caminero.
The Pitching
Starter Foster Griffin gave Cleveland four innings, allowing two runs and five hits, and the bullpen did the rest. For a staff that just struck out 21 White Sox in a winner-take-all game, holding the Rays to three runs on the road was another statement.
Momentum
Cleveland has now won four straight postseason games since falling behind 0-2 to the White Sox. Its formula hasn’t changed: elite relief pitching, timely hitting and enough power from DeLauter, Bailey and Ramírez to change games late.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, with rookie left-hander Parker Messick starting for Cleveland against Freddy Peralta.
The Read
The Rays were the AL’s best team all season, but the Guardians have become October’s most dangerous one. Stealing Game 1 on the road flips home-field advantage — and puts the pressure squarely on Tampa Bay.
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