In yet another extremely well-played postseason game between the two best teams in the American League this year, here are a few of the most important takeaways from Cleveland's 3-2 win over Tampa, which gives them a 2-1 series lead in the ALCS.

Gavin Williams shines again

Cleveland's clydesdale went out and delivered another October performance fans won't soon forget. "Big Rig" keeps showcasing that the Guardians have one of the premier, young frontline starters in all of baseball.

Williams went five innings and gave up two runs on two hits, striking out nine Rays hitters along the way and walking only one. Unfortunately, Williams gave up a 2-out, 2-run triple to Chandler Simpson on a slider that hung in the zone. But he got out of that inning without allowing a third run and kept the game 2-1 at that point.

Williams fastball velocity was terrific yet again, sitting between 97 and 99.6 mph (although it tapered off just a smidge in the fifth inning), but his sweeper and knuckle curve were extremely effective in setting up his high velocity 4-seamer. Collectively, the Rays had very few hard balls put in play against Williams.

He's thrown in four postseason games this year with phenomenal results. In 16.2 innings, Williams has 33 strikeouts and a 0.84 WHIP.

If the Guardians are going to win a World Series, they need him to be as fresh as possible as October progresses.

Petey Halpin delivers in the clutch

I truly believe if you are watching the intricacies of the game, there are no easy outs in the Guardians' lineup. But it's fair to point out that Petey Halpin doesn't have the same resume as Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Jo Adell who hit in some of the power spots in the order. Ironically, Halpin's opportunity has come about because of a combination of his terrific defense and regular season team home run-leader Angel Martinez's October offensive struggles.

In nearly 200 career Major League regular season and postseason games, the former third round pick has mustered just a .228 batting average.

How poetic then, that with the Guardians needing a boost trailing 2-1 in fifth, that Halpin's howitzer over the right-center field wall ignited a roar inside Progressive Field that had been missing since Chandler Simpson's triple off Williams gave Tampa the lead.

It was Halpin's first career postseason home run and just the fifth of his Major League career, but it was his second standout homer late in the year. He also took Chicago southpaw Sean Newcomb deep on September 16th on a 3-run shot to give the Guardians the lead in a game that desperately needed in the AL Central race.

Thursday's 2-run dinger came at a critical juncture for Cleveland, but it felt like a big moment was coming for him. He's put together some truly exceptional at bats when he's gotten chances at the plate during the ALDS and ALCS.

Cleveland's power arms in the bullpen are making a huge difference

Between Wednesday's off day and the fact that Stephen Vogt didn't need to use his highest leverage arms in Tuesday's 3-1 loss, the best arms in the Guardians bullpen were well-rested ahead of Game 3.

Espino, Sabrowski, Gaddis and Smith were all well-rested for Thursday's Game 3 after none of them pitched on Tuesday, nor Wednesday's day off.

Perhaps it's the weight of the moment in the postseason that makes it feel a bit heavier, but it feels like Cleveland's bullpen arms are all throwing harder in October. They have overpowered the White Sox and Rays through the first eight postseason games and have brought Cleveland within two wins of a berth in the Fall Classic.

Clash of Titans

In a game that had a handful of tense moments, the true climax felt like an eighth inning duel between Yandy Diaz and Cade Smith.

Smith appears larger than life and is akin to the greek god Zeus when he throws his own version of fire and lightning.

Yandy Diaz led the American League in hits this year. He certainly isn't your prototypical leadoff hitter ... Diaz's biceps are bigger than most people's quads. The guy looks every bit the role of a villain (and certainly Guardians fans are familiar with him from his time in the Cleveland organization).

With the Guardians leading the game 3-2 and the tying run for Tampa standing out at second base, Smith and Diaz tangoed during a 10-pitch at bat that featured seven 4-seam fastballs between 96 and 98 mph, and three well-timed splitters that disrupted Diaz's rhythm.

Diaz pulled a couple of foul balls that made Guardians fans' hearts collectively skip a beat, but both of them went just foul down the third base/left field chalk line.

That 10th and final pitch from Smith blew past Diaz's bat and sent 30,101 fans into hysteria. 

A few series nuggets

When a seven-game series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the series 71 of 102 times (69.6%), including 13 of 18 times (72.2%) in the ALCS.

The Guardians are 6-1 all-time in ALCS Game 3’s and have won their last six such contests after their only loss in 1995 vs. Seattle.

Cleveland is up 2-1 after three games in an ALCS for a fourth time in club history (also, 1997, 1998 & 2007) ... Cleveland went on to win the series in 1997 vs. BAL, but lost in 1998 vs. NYY in six games and lost in 2007 vs. BOS in seven games.

Cleveland pitching recorded 13 strikeouts on Thursday, bringing their 2026 Postseason total to 102 strikeouts through their eight games ... The 102 strikeouts are the most by any MLB team through their first eight games of a Postseason (previous was 100 SO by the 2013 Tigers and 2022 Astros).