Jonathan Aranda leads Rays past Guardians to tie ALCS 2-2
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Jonathan Aranda had three hits and two RBIs as Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 7-3 in Game 4 on Saturday.
- The win tied the ALCS at two games each. Game 5 is on Sunday in Cleveland.
- Aranda scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. He drove in two more in the seventh.
Jonathan Aranda had the biggest night of his playoff run. His three hits led Tampa Bay to a 7-3 win. The Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 on Saturday.
The win tied the series at two games each. The ALCS is the American League Championship Series. It decides which team reaches the World Series.
The series is best-of-seven. The first team to win four games takes the series.
Aranda drove in two runs. He also scored two runs. He was the star of the night.
He gave Tampa Bay the lead in the sixth inning. He added two more runs in the seventh. Cleveland could not catch up.
What happened
Baseball games have nine innings. Each team gets a turn to bat in every inning. A run scores when a player circles the bases and reaches home plate.
Cleveland started fast. Chase DeLauter hit a single in the first inning. A single is a hit that sends the batter to first base.
His hit brought Steven Kwan home. Cleveland led 1-0.
Tampa Bay had no hit in its first turn at bat. Yandy Diaz then doubled in his second at-bat. A double is a hit that sends the batter to second base.
In the third inning, Aranda tied the game. He hit a single with two outs. Diaz scored on the play.
The score was 1-1.
The game stayed tied until the sixth inning. Aranda reached base in that inning. Junior Caminero then hit a double.
His hit sent Aranda home. Tampa Bay led 2-1. Caminero's hit came against Daniel Espino.
Espino took the loss for Cleveland.
The Rays broke the game open in the seventh. Aranda hit a single to right field. DeLauter misplayed the ball for an error.
An error is a mistake by a fielder. Two runs scored on the play.
Chandler Simpson then hit a sacrifice fly. A sacrifice fly is a high ball that scores a run. Aranda scored on the play.
Tampa Bay led 5-1.
Cleveland fought back in the bottom of the seventh. The bottom of an inning is the home team's turn to bat. Travis Bazzana hit a solo home run.
A home run is a hit that clears the fence. It was his first career playoff home run.
Brayan Rocchio then hit a single. His hit brought Patrick Bailey home. Cleveland cut the lead to 5-3.
Cleveland put two runners on base later in the inning. The Guardians could not score again. They left five runners on base in the game.
A runner left on base is a player who does not score.
The Rays had one more answer. Diaz hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning. His shot came off Matt Festa.
The final score was 7-3.
Pitching told half the story
Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez was strong. He pitched five and one-third innings. He gave up one run on two hits.
He struck out three batters. He walked two. He retired 11 batters in a row.
That run lasted from the first to the fifth inning.
Freddy Peralta helped in relief. Peralta started Game 2 for Tampa Bay. He came out of the bullpen in Game 4.
The bullpen is the group of relief pitchers. He got two huge outs late in the game.
Martinez praised him after the game. "He saved me, he saved our game today," Martinez said, according to theScore.
One night earlier, rain washed out the game. It was Cleveland's first-ever postseason home rainout. Game 4 was played on Saturday instead.
The first-pitch temperature was 46 degrees. It was a cold night in Cleveland.
Guardians star Jose Ramirez went 0-for-3 with a walk. His on-base streak reached 16 postseason games. That tied the Cleveland franchise record.
Why it matters
This win changed the shape of the series. Tampa Bay's big three came alive. Aranda, Caminero, and Diaz drove in five runs combined.
That trio had just one RBI in the first three games. RBI means runs batted in. It counts runs a batter's hit brings home.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised the group. "Aranda came through in a big way for us," Cash said, according to theScore.
Tampa Bay won Game 2 to level the series at one game each. Now the Rays have tied it again at two games each. They are back on even terms.
Cleveland hurt itself with defense. The Guardians had multiple defensive lapses. A lapse is a missed play.
DeLauter's error in the seventh was the biggest one. "A couple unfortunate plays for us tonight," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said, according to theScore. He said Cleveland usually makes those plays.
The tie means the series goes back to Florida. Game 6 will be played in St Petersburg on Monday. Tampa Bay plays its home games there.
A tied series puts full pressure on Game 5. The winner takes a 3-2 lead. The loser faces a must-win game.
The winner of this series goes to the World Series. That is the final round of the baseball season. It is the prize both teams want.
What happens next
Game 5 is on Sunday at Progressive Field. First pitch is at 5:08 PM ET. ET means Eastern Time.
Rookie left-hander Parker Messick starts for Cleveland. A rookie is a first-year player. A left-hander throws with his left hand.
Right-hander Drew Rasmussen starts for Tampa Bay. He throws with his right hand.
"We've got a huge game, another swing game tomorrow," Cash said, according to theScore. A swing game can shift the whole series.
After Game 5, the series moves to Florida. Game 6 is on Monday in St Petersburg. The Rays will host that game.
If the series goes the full distance, Game 7 will follow. The winner moves on to the World Series.
Aranda turned a quiet series into his night. One big game can change a playoff run. Now the Rays have fresh life.
Game 5 will show if they can keep it.
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