Peralta’s six scoreless innings and Hicks’ hit pull Rays even in ALCS

Freddy Peralta gave Tampa Bay six scoreless innings, and Liam Hicks turned a fourth-inning opening into a two-run single as the Rays beat Cleveland 3-1 on Tuesday to tie the American League Championship Series at one game each.

The Rays scored all three runs in one inning at Tropicana Field. Cleveland's seventh-inning response brought the tying run into scoring position, but Ian Seymour struck out Jo Adell to end that threat and Bryan Baker finished a perfect ninth.

Peralta allowed four hits, walked two and struck out six on 99 pitches. His work gave Tampa Bay the response it needed after Cleveland scored seven runs over the final four innings of Monday's opener.

Jesse Rogers reported for ESPN that 72% of Peralta's pitches were fastballs, averaging 96.9 mph and topping out at 99.4 mph. Rogers reported both velocity figures as career highs. Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder told ESPN that changes to Peralta's delivery and training had helped him move faster, including working from the stretch and the arm side of the rubber.

The fourth inning turns

Parker Messick kept Tampa Bay scoreless through three innings, with Cleveland turning double plays in the second and third. The fourth began with a walk to Junior Caminero and a Victor Mesa Jr. grounder that was initially ruled a double play.

Rob Maaddi's Associated Press report described Tampa Bay challenging the calls at first and second. Review left Mesa safe at first, preserving a runner after Caminero was forced out. Jonny DeLuca struck out, then Chandler Simpson reached on an infield single.

Ben Williamson's grounder went through José Ramírez for an error. Mesa scored, Williamson reached second and Simpson advanced to third. Hicks followed with the two-run single that made it 3-0. All three runs were unearned against Messick.

Tampa Bay shared Hicks' hit from the inning that supplied its entire scoring margin.

Messick finished five innings, allowing six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Cleveland's relief group held the Rays scoreless afterward, keeping the game within reach. The decisive gap came from the fourth-inning mistake and Tampa Bay's immediate hit behind it.

Cleveland's chance in the seventh

Peralta ended his outing by striking out Petey Halpin in the sixth. Kevin Kelly took over in the seventh, when Patrick Bailey walked and Steven Kwan singled. Kelly retired Ramírez on a fly ball before Tampa Bay brought in Seymour to face Chase DeLauter.

DeLauter doubled to right, scoring Bailey and moving Kwan to third. The hit cut the deficit to 3-1 and put the tying runs at second and third with two outs.

MLB shared DeLauter's hit as Cleveland finally broke through.

Seymour struck out Adell to end the inning. He then retired Cleveland in order in the eighth, and Baker needed eight pitches for the final three outs. The save was Baker's fourth of the postseason.

Hicks and DeLuca each had two of Tampa Bay's seven hits. Kwan went 2-for-5 for Cleveland, while DeLauter reached three times with his double and two walks. The Guardians finished with six hits.

The series resumes Thursday in Cleveland. Tampa Bay leaves its two home games with a split; Cleveland takes the same result back to its own park after winning the opener. This was the only MLB game played Tuesday. Milwaukee and Los Angeles were off after the Brewers took a 2-0 NLCS lead Monday.

Sources

ESPN: ALCS Game 2 box score and play-by-play · Rob Maaddi, Associated Press: Rays tie the ALCS