Cleveland Guardians Overtake Tampa Bay Rays in ALCS Game 1

The Tampa Bay bullpen faltered late on Monday night. After seven innings of tough baseball in St. Petersburg, the Cleveland Guardians surged with five runs in the final two innings, securing a 7-3 win in Game 1 of the ALCS. José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter celebrated after scoring during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Rays took an early lead. With two outs in the first inning, Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca hit consecutive RBI singles, putting Tampa Bay ahead 2-0. Rays starter Drew Rasmussen maintained this lead through five innings, striking out seven batters.

Cleveland responded in the sixth. Chase DeLauter homered an opposite-field solo shot over the right-center wall, cutting the lead. Patrick Bailey tied the game with a solo home run down the right-field line in the seventh inning, ending Rasmussen’s night at 2-2.

The Guardians intensified in the eighth inning.

José Ramirez initiated with an infield single, DeLauter followed with a double, and Nathaniel Lowe delivered a two-run single, making it 4-2. Tampa Bay replied in the bottom of the eighth when Cedric Mullins hit a solo homer off Erik Sabrowski, narrowing the gap to 4-3.

In the ninth, Ramirez sealed the deal. With two outs, he drove an RBI single to right field off Cole Sulser, extending the lead to 5-3. After a walk to DeLauter, Kevin Kelly faced Jo Adell, who doubled down the third-base line, capping the score at 7-3.

Cleveland banged out 14 hits against six Tampa Bay pitchers. Ramirez and DeLauter amassed six hits together before Cade Smith finished the game efficiently. The Rays had swept the Yankees before Monday, but faced a new challenge after this game.

Game 2 is set for Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.