DeLauter, Bailey Homers Lead Guardians to 7-3 Win Over Rays in ALCS Game 1

Nathaniel Lowe hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Monday night.

The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Monday night at Tropicana Field to take a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series. Nathaniel Lowe provided the decisive blow with a two-run single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch in the eighth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie. Cleveland’s offense produced 14 hits, including three each from José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter, against a Rays pitching staff that had allowed only 12 hits during their entire ALDS sweep of the Yankees.

Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, DeLauter hit a solo home run to left-center off Drew Rasmussen. Patrick Bailey tied the game in the seventh with a 436-foot solo shot to center, ending Rasmussen’s outing. Rasmussen finished with seven strikeouts over six-plus innings, allowing eight hits. The Guardians extended their lead in the ninth when Ramírez hit an RBI single and Jo Adell added a two-run double that scored two after Junior Caminero was pulled out of position by a stolen base attempt.

Cleveland’s bullpen combined for five innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits. Foster Griffin started for the Guardians, giving up two runs and five hits over four innings, including first-inning RBI singles to Caminero and Jonny DeLuca. Cedric Mullins hit a solo home run for Tampa Bay in the eighth inning off Erik Sabrowski, while Cade Smith closed the game with a perfect ninth.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night in St. Petersburg. Rookie left-hander Parker Messick will start for Cleveland against Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta.