RAYS CAPITALIZE ON GUARDIANS’ ERROR, KNOT ALCS BEHIND FREDDY PERALTA
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays took advantage of an uncharacteristic error by Jose Ramirez to even their American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.
Ramirez’s miscue opened the door for a three-run frame in the fourth and Freddy Peralta tossed six scoreless innings, fueling the Rays to a 3-1 victory in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.
Liam Hicks recorded a two-run single and joined Jonny DeLuca with two hits for Tampa Bay.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday in Cleveland.
Peralta (1-0) scattered four hits and struck out six while walking two. The right-hander capped his 99-pitch outing by striking out rookie Petey Halpin to end the sixth.
Peralta has allowed one or zero earned runs in eight consecutive outings.
“I define myself as a competitor, and I like these kind of games,” Peralta said. “… I grew up watching the games in (the Dominican Republic). That’s the game that you see. And I’m used to that. I feel that I have that in me.”
Cleveland rookie Chase DeLauter ripped an RBI double down the right field line to trim Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-1 in the seventh. Left-hander Ian Seymour, however, struck out Jo Adell with runners on second and third to end the inning.
Seymour retired the side in order in the eighth to bridge the gap to All-Star closer Bryan Baker, who did the same in the ninth to secure his fourth save of the postseason after leading the major leagues with 41 in the regular season.
“Makes for a happy flight. Mission accomplished on that front,” Baker said.
Ramirez misplayed a routine grounder by Ben Williamson, as the ball bounced through the third baseman’s legs and into left field to allow Victor Mesa Jr. to score the game’s first run in the fourth.
“It’s a little faster here,” Ramirez said of the infield at Tropicana Field, through a club translator. “I was playing parallel to the base and the ball bounced right on the edge between the dirt and the turf.
“I tried to knock it down, but I couldn’t.”
Said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt: “Josey kind of got stuck. It looked like he just didn’t move his feet. And I don’t know if it hit the lip or not on the second hop, but just kind of looked like he sat back a little bit with his feet set instead of moving his feet.”
Hicks followed by sending the next pitch from All-Star rookie left-hander Parker Messick (0-2) into right-center field to plate Chandler Simpson and Williamson and stake Tampa Bay to a 3-0 lead.
“I have to make it count. I have to make them pay for that,” Hicks told MLB Network. “That’s a team that doesn’t make those types of errors. You have to take advantage of any kind of opportunity.”
Vogt credited the Rays for capitalizing.
“They’ve done that all year. When they smell blood, they take it and run,” he said.
Earlier in the inning, the Guardians appeared to have turned their third double play in four innings before Tampa Bay successfully challenged the play. Mesa was ruled safe at first base.
Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero snared a sharp liner by Steven Kwan in the fifth. Caminero then drew a rise out of the crowd by flashing a finger wag in the manner of former renowned NBA shot blocker Dikembe Mutombo.
Messick, a native of nearby Plant City, Fla., permitted three runs (all unearned) on six hits in five innings. He also walked two and hit one batter.
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