The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians to even the American League Championship Series, a best-of-seven matchup, at one game apiece.
Tampa Bay defeated Cleveland 3-1 in Game 2 of the 2026 ALCS on the 14th, Korea time, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Rays, who had lost Game 1 by 7-3 after surrendering the lead a day earlier, pulled level at 1-1 in the series. The teams play Game 3 on the 16th at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Starter Freddy Peralta was the key to the win. He allowed four hits and two walks over six innings while striking out six, holding Cleveland's lineup scoreless.
Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth on a Cleveland fielding error. With two outs and a runner on first, Chandler Simpson hit an infield single toward shortstop off Cleveland starter Parker Messick to put runners on first and third. Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez then mishandled a grounder by the next batter, Ben Williamson, allowing the runner from third to score.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Liam Hicks lined a two-run single to center on Messick's first pitch, a 143-kilometer-per-hour (89 mph) slider. The hits pushed Tampa Bay's lead to 3-0.
After Peralta left the mound, Tampa Bay gave up a run in the top of the seventh but shut out Cleveland in the eighth and ninth to close out the game.