Chase DeLauter and José Ramírez
lead the Guardians to a 7-3 win over the Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS
[October 13, 2026]
By ROB MAADDI
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians used small ball,
the longball and played solid all-around baseball to keep winning in
the postseason.
Nathaniel Lowe snapped an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single
after Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey homered off Drew Rasmussen,
and the Guardians rallied past 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 in the
postseason for the first time since winning their first six playoff
games in 2016 on the way to a World Series berth.
“It feels good to see some balls fall, to see some guys get on the
barrel, to see some guys have some great at-bats, because the first
two games of the White Sox series, we got beat. We did,” Lowe said.
“We had to go get our backs against the wall and do something crazy,
and this group did. It’s nice to feel some momentum coming here and
to take Game 1.”
Jose Ramírez had three hits and DeLauter was a triple shy of the
cycle as the Guardians banged out 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 in
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 innings of one-run, two-hit ball
for the Guardians, who became only 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, tossed a perfect
ninth.
“Obviously we came off an emotional series, had a quick turnaround.
But these guys come ready to play every day. Couldn’t be more proud
of them,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “We got punched
early. And our pitching staff, 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 into the sixth before DeLauter led off
with an opposite-field homer to left-center. Bailey started the
seventh with a towering shot to center that went a projected 436
feet, ending Rasmussen’s night.
Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the eighth in Game 1 of the ALDS
against the Yankees.
Ramírez opened the eighth with an infield single off losing pitcher
Tyler Wells, and DeLauter ripped 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 drive in 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.
[to top of second column] |
Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter celebrate after
scoring on a single by Nathaniel Lowe against the Tampa Bay Rays
during the eighth inning in Game 1 of an American League
Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday,
Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
“I love coming back here, I really do,” Lowe said.
“It’s nice to see some familiar faces on the other side.”
Mullins connected off Erik Sabrowski for a solo shot in the bottom
half.
Ramírez, whose two-run homer lifted Cleveland to a 2-0 win in Game 5
against Chicago, provided an insurance run with an RBI single in the
ninth off Cole Sulser.
Ramírez then helped the Guardians get two more by breaking for 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 toward
third. The ball rolled into left field for a two-run double.
A crowd of 35,361 fans waved yellow rally towels and rang cowbells
at the Trop as Tampa Bay made its third ALCS appearance in the
franchise's 29-season history.
They were fired up when the 98-win Rays jumped ahead 2-0 in the
first and Rasmussen battled to keep it there until the sixth.
Coming off that dominant performance against the Yankees, Rasmussen
went six-plus tough innings. The two-time All-Star right-hander, who
was four outs from a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory against New York,
allowed a hit to the second batter he faced and eight total,
striking out seven.
Guardians starter Foster Griffin gave up two runs and five hits in
four innings.
Glove work
The Rays helped Rasmussen with outstanding defense.
Nick Fortes threw out Ramírez trying to steal second in the first.
Caminero made an excellent play to retire Adell on a hard bouncer to
third. Caminero short-hopped the ball with his backhand and fired a
strong throw to first.
The Guardians had a runner on first with one out in the third when
second baseman Ben Williamson robbed DeLauter of a hit that
prevented a first-and-third jam. Williamson, who wasn’t on the ALDS
roster, made a diving grab on DeLauter’s sharp grounder, got up and
threw him out.
Stranded runners
Rays slick-fielding 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 in the fourth and grounded out
with runners on first and second to end the sixth.
Up next
Messick took the loss in Game 1 of the AL Division Series, allowing
two runs over 4 1/3 innings. He threw 2 1/3 innings in relief during
a Game 4 victory, giving up two runs. Messick had 11 strikeouts in
the two appearances. He was 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA in the regular
season.
Peralta allowed one run and three hits over 4 2/3 innings in Game 2
of the Division Series vs. 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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