Freddy Peralta pitches six scoreless innings as Rays beat Guardians 3-1
Key takeaways
- Freddy Peralta threw six scoreless innings in ALCS Game 2 on Tuesday night.
- Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 3-1 to tie the series at 1-1.
- The series moves to Cleveland for Game 3 on Thursday.
Freddy Peralta shut down Cleveland for six innings on Tuesday night. The Tampa Bay Rays beat Cleveland 3-1 in Game 2 of the ALCS. The game took place at Tropicana Field in Florida.
Peralta gave up no runs He struck out six batters He left the game with a 3-0 lead.
The Rays needed a start like this one They had lost the series opener the night before.
What happened
First pitch came at 8:08 pm ET. The game was played on Tuesday, October 13. Both starters held firm early. Neither team scored in the first three innings.
Peralta gave up a leadoff single to Steven Kwan in the first inning He then retired the next three batters Parker Messick gave up a two-out double to Junior Caminero.
He then struck out Victor Mesa Jr to end the inning.
The fourth inning changed the game Messick had escaped trouble twice before He had allowed seven base runners through four innings.
Two double plays had kept the game scoreless.
Then a third double play was overturned Victor Mesa Jr was ruled safe at first base.
The inning stayed alive Ben Williamson then hit a routine grounder to third Jose Ramirez failed to field the ball.
The ball trickled into left field Mesa Jr scored the first run of the game.
On the very next pitch, Liam Hicks struck He lined a two-run single up the middle Chandler Simpson and Williamson both scored.
Tampa Bay led 3-0 after four innings.
Peralta finished his night in the sixth inning He struck out Petey Halpin on a foul tip The at-bat lasted nine pitches.
It was his sixth strikeout of the night The six innings marked a playoff career high for Peralta, according to USA Today He walked off the mound to loud cheers.
Cleveland struck back in the seventh inning The Rays went to the bullpen with Peralta out Kevin Kelly took the mound first.
Cleveland put two runners on base The Rays then turned to lefty Ian Seymour.
Chase DeLauter greeted him with an RBI double to right field The hit cut the Tampa Bay lead to 3-1. Cleveland had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position Seymour struck out Jo Adell to end the threat.
He left both runners on base.
Ramirez had a chance to make up for his error. He lifted a fly ball to center field instead. The fly came with one out and two runners on.
The Rays took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth Slade Cecconi entered the game to pitch for Cleveland Tampa Bay held on from there.
Bryan Baker closed out the ninth The Rays won 3-1 and tied the series at 1-1.
Why it matters
Game 1 had gone the other way Cleveland won Game 1 7-3 on Monday night The Guardians took a 1-0 series lead.
A second loss would have put Tampa Bay in a deep hole.
Teams that win the first two games win most of these series USA Today puts the mark at 79 wins in 95 series Peralta stopped that slide before it could start.
His six scoreless innings gave the Rays control.
The fourth inning showed how fast a game can turn One error opened the door for three runs All three Tampa Bay runs were unearned, according to the Beacon Journal.
Messick pitched well apart from that inning He gave up three runs, none earned, on six hits He walked two batters and struck out three.
The Beacon Journal reported those numbers.
Peralta came to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline The Rays got him from the Mets, according to the Beacon Journal He finished September in strong form.
He posted a 0.96 ERA across five starts that month, according to TWSN He carried that form into the playoffs In the AL Division Series, he allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings.
USA Today reported that line.
The Rays trusted Peralta in a big spot He gave them six calm innings He kept Cleveland off the scoreboard.
That is what Tampa Bay needed most.
What happens next
Game 3 comes on Thursday, October 15. This ALCS showdown now moves to Cleveland. First pitch is set for 6 pm ET. The game will be played at Progressive Field.
The series now stands at 1-1. The Rays will need their bullpen to stay sharp In Game 1, Cleveland scored five runs against Tampa Bay relievers, according to TWSN A clean finish in Game 2 would change the mood.
It would send the Rays to Cleveland with fresh hope.
Peralta gave Tampa Bay what it needed most He gave the Rays six calm innings and a lead He turned a tense night into a strong win.
The next test comes on Thursday in Cleveland.
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