Cleveland had found themselves in another win or go home elimination game. The Tampa Bay Rays threw Freddy Peralta against the Cleveland Guardians with Cleveland going with their go-to postseason line up.
Steven Kwan led the game off with a single after working a 2-2 count. Two quick flyouts and a pop out retired the side quickly, but Shawn Armstrong did it even faster. Armstrong retired the side in seven pitches, catching the final out, a pop out, himself.
The top of the second began with a ball and a pitch com issue, but ended with a long fly ball to the warning track from Patrick Bailey. The middle of the order did a great job to work pitch counts and drove Peralta up to 29 pitches finish the second inning.
Shawn Armstrong came on for one more batter, giving up a weak bloop single to Junior Caminero. Stephen Vogt was quick with the hook and brought out Tim Herrin to face Tampa’s 5-6-7 batters. Herrin gave up a fielder’s choice to Chandler Simpson, eliminating the lead runner from scoring position. Unfortunately for Herrin and the Guardians, Simpson immediately stole second base and was called safe after a near perfect throw from Bailey to shortstop Brayan Rocchio. The steal was, essentially, nullified after Victor Mesa Jr. drew a five pitch walk. Jonny DeLuca lined out to centerfielder Petey Halpin for the second out with Richie Palacios up to bat. Herrin fought with a six pitch at bat to the former Guardian Palacios, but Richie came out on top. Palacios swung on a foul ball out of the zone and blooped it perfectly into right center for a two-run double, prompting Vogt to turn to Matt Festa with two outs in the bottom of the second. Festa walked Taylor Walls and hit Yandy Díaz to load the bases for one of Tampa’s best. Festa lucked out with Jonathan Aranda flying out to left.
Peralta saw traffic again despite a quick first out, a strikeout to Petey Halpin. Brayan Rocchio singled on a liner to center, but was called out at second when Steven Kwan grounded into a force out. José Ramírez, representing the tying run with two outs, didn’t see a single pitch resembling a strike. Chase DeLauter was called out on strikes after being shown two strikes high in the zone. The final strike was low and outside, originally called a ball, but overturned to a strikeout.
The hitting ramped up for the Rays in the bottom of the third. Joey Cantillo came on as the bulk relief guy to replace Matt Festa. Cantillo gave up two singles and a walk before the first out was recorded. A forceout at home plate kept the bases loaded, but kept a runner from scoring. The scoreless frame didn’t last. A sac fly to left scored Caminero, giving Tampa a 3-0 lead before the side was retired.
Things continued to look bleak for Cleveland in the top of the fourth. Jo Adell hit a perfect double to left field to start the inning with a bit of forward momentum. Nathaniel Lowe drew a walk, getting two on, but a lineout and a GIDP ended the inning before anyone could think about scoring.
Joey Cantillo did not provide the much needed depth, walking the first batter and hitting the third in the bottom of the fourth. Cantillo went 1.2 innings of work, handing things over to Daniel Espino to face Junior Caminero for the fourth time this series. Caminero hit a long fly ball that looked dangerous, but was caught by Petey Halpin to retire the side. Espino stayed on in the bottom of the fifth, getting three quick outs and pitching the Rays well.
Cleveland finally responded in the top of the sixth. Chase DeLauter hit a long double that bounced off the wall in center to lead off the inning. Nathaniel Lowe, with one out, singled on a grounder to center that scored DeLauter and finally forced Kevin Cash to go to his bullpen. Cam Booser got the next two batters out, but Cleveland got on the board.
Erik Sabrowski came on in the bottom of the sixth. Richie Palacios hit a single to right, but a well played forceout on Taylor Walls got the lead runner out at second. Yandy Díaz grounded out for the second out of the inning in a well played G1-3. Sabrowski sent down Jonathan Aranda with a swinging strikeout to quickly retire the side.
Vogt turned to Cade Smith early in the bottom of the seventh with the goal of keeping it 3-1. Cade gave up a walk to Liam Hick and then gave up a home run to Junior Caminero. Caminero hit the home run on the first pitch, a splitter, that was thrown well inside. It was a rather incredible ball to swing at, let alone hit a homer off it. According to the broadcast, it was the first home run that has been hit off of Cade Smith’s splitter. Cade got the next three outs, but the damage had been done.
Cleveland held on in the top of the eighth. Tyler Wells came on in relief of Cam Booser. Wells gave up two singles and two outs. With DeLauter on second and Lowe on first, Kevin Cash went to Ian Seymour to replace Tyler Wells. Seymour struggled immediately with control, walking Bazzana to load the bases. Patrick Bailey walked in a run and kept the bases loaded for Angel Martínez. Angel was immediately hit by pitch, scoring Lowe. Kevin Kelly came in to replace Seymour and struck out Rocchio to end the Cleveland rally.
The nail in the coffin came in the bottom of the eighth. Hunter Gaddis came on for Cade Smith and got a flyout to start the inning. Taylor Walls drew a walk and Yandy Díaz launched a home run to left to put the Rays up 7-3.
The Guardians offense was at the top of their order and as out of gas as the pitching staff has been. Steven Kwan and José Ramírez hit into back-to-back ground outs, leaving Chase DeLauter with the final at bat for the Cleveland Guardians 2026 season. A pop up in foul territory was the final out, stamping the Rays’ ticket to the World Series.
Very few thought this Guardians team would make it this far. Many national media experts had the White Sox going the whole way. The highs were mountains and the lows, deep valleys, but across the landscape that made up this season, this team rallied together and put together a playoff run that many would have never predicted even into August. All of the season’s weaknesses were exposed in the ALCS by a team that was, in short, better. Regardless of that, the Guardians held their own against the best team in the American League.
The World Series is set. One team will win it all for the first time ever. Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers.