Cleveland Guardians defeat Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 in Game 1

The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The Guardians scored five runs over the final two innings to overcome an early deficit and secure the opening victory of the best-of-seven playoff series.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca hit consecutive RBI hits with two outs. Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen pitched five innings and struck out seven batters before allowing two solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Chase DeLauter hit an opposite-field home run over the right-center wall to break Rasmussen's streak in the sixth inning, and Patrick Bailey hit a solo home run down the right-field line to tie the game at 2-2 leading off the seventh.

The Guardians extended their lead in the eighth inning against relievers Tyler Wells and Ian Seymour. Jose Ramirez started the rally with an infield single, followed by DeLauter hitting a double down the line. Nathaniel Lowe then hit a two-run single to make the score 4-2. Cedric Mullins reduced the deficit to 4-3 for Tampa Bay in the bottom of the eighth inning by hitting a solo home run to right field off Erik Sabrowski.

Ramirez added an insurance RBI single into right field off Cole Sulser in the ninth inning with two outs to make it 5-3. After Sulser walked DeLauter, reliever Kevin Kelly faced Jo Adell, who hit a two-run double down the third-base line to end the game at 7-3. The Guardians recorded 14 hits against six Rays pitchers, while Ramirez and DeLauter combined for six hits. Cade Smith retired six batters on six pitches to close out the game for Cleveland.

The Rays entered the series after sweeping the New York Yankees in the previous round. Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.