Peralta throws six scoreless innings as Rays beat Guardians 3-1 to even ALCS

ST. PETERSBURG — Freddy Peralta threw six scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Tuesday night in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. The best-of-seven is tied at a game apiece.

All three Tampa Bay runs came in the fourth inning, and all three were unearned. Victor Mesa Jr. scored on an error by third baseman Jose Ramirez, who let Ben Williamson's grounder through into left field, and Liam Hicks followed with a two-run single to right-centre off Parker Messick to make it 3-0.

Peralta (1-0) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings on 99 pitches, touching 99.4 miles per hour, a career best. Messick (0-2) took the loss despite allowing no earned runs: three runs, all unearned, on six hits over five innings. Cleveland's pitching staff did not allow an earned run all night.

Cleveland's only run came in the seventh, when Chase DeLauter doubled home pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey off Ian Seymour. Seymour escaped the inning by striking out Jo Adell with runners on second and third, then threw a perfect eighth, and Bryan Baker retired the side in order in the ninth for his fourth save of the postseason.

Hicks, the Rays' catcher from Toronto, Ontario, finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Jonny DeLuca also had two hits for Tampa Bay. Peralta is from Moca, Dominican Republic, while Messick, from nearby Plant City, Florida, took the loss in front of a crowd of 32,125 at Tropicana Field. Steven Kwan had two of Cleveland's six hits.

Game 3 is Thursday night in Cleveland. Griffin Jax starts for Tampa Bay, while the Guardians have not announced a starter.

This recap is brought to you in part by Animas Painting — interior and exterior painting in Calgary. Reach Rafael at 403-604-5529.