Freddy Peralta shines again as Rays beat Guardians to even ALCS
ST.PETERSBURG, Fla.
— Freddy Peralta threw six innings of four-hit ball, Liam Hicks lined a two-run single after a fielding error by José Ramírez and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 Tuesday night to even the AL Championship Series at 1-1.Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Cleveland.Ramírez, whose two-run homer in Game 5 of their AL Division Series against Chicago helped the Guardians become the 11th team to overcome an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series, misplayed a grounder in the fourth inning that led to three unearned runs against rookie lefty Parker Messick.Junior Caminero walked to start that inning and Victor Mesa Jr.grounded into a forceout originally ruled a double play.
The Rays challenged the calls at both first and second and Mesa was ruled safe when a video review overturned the out decision by first base umpire Mark Ripperger.After Jonny DeLuca struck out, Chandler Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop, and the Mesa reached third standing up when Ramírez failed to cover the bag.Ben Williamson followed with a grounder that scooted underneath Ramírez’s glove and between his legs after the ball hit the edge where the artificial turf met the infield dirt.The third baseman played back rather than charging.Williamson reached second and Simpson went to third.
Hicks drove the next pitch to right-center for a 3-0 lead, electrifying the towel-waving, cowbell-ringing crowd of 32,125 fans at Tropicana Field.Peralta and three relievers didn’t need any more support.With fans chanting “Freddy! Freddy! Freddy!” Peralta struck out six to earn the win.He was fired up walking off the mound in the sixth after fanning Petey Halpin swinging at a 3-2 changeup.Kevin Kelly got two outs in the seventh, retiring Ramírez on a fly ball to center with two runners on.Lefty Ian Seymour replaced him and Chase DeLauter lined an RBI double to the right-field corner.Seymour struck out Jo Adell swinging at a changeup, ...