ST. PETERSBURG — The Cleveland Guardians have apparently decided that coming from behind is the best way to win postseason baseball games.
After overcoming a two-game deficit to eliminate the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series, Cleveland opened the ALCS with another comeback Monday night, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 at Tropicana Field.
Nathaniel Lowe delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single in the eighth inning, while Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey each homered to erase an early deficit. The Guardians added three insurance runs in the ninth to secure their fourth consecutive postseason victory and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Tampa Bay wasted little time putting Cleveland behind. Yandy Díaz opened the bottom of the first with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Junior Caminero's RBI single. Jonny DeLuca added another run-scoring single later in the inning, giving the Rays a 2-0 advantage against starter Foster Griffin.
Griffin settled down after the difficult opening inning, holding Tampa Bay scoreless over the next three frames. He finished with four innings pitched and two runs allowed before Daniel Espino took over in the fifth.
Unfortunately, Cleveland's offense wasn't having much success against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen.
That changed in the sixth inning when DeLauter launched a solo home run to left-center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Bailey followed with a leadoff homer in the seventh, tying the game at two and ending Rasmussen's evening.
The Guardians finally broke through in the eighth.
José Ramírez opened the inning with an infield single, and DeLauter followed with a double to right, putting runners at second and third with nobody out. After Jo Adell grounded out, Tampa Bay brought in left-hander Ian Seymour to face Lowe.
The move didn't work.
Lowe lined a single into center field, scoring both runners and giving Cleveland its first lead of the night, 4-2.
The Rays responded immediately when pinch-runner Cedric Mullins, who had entered in the sixth, homered off Erik Sabrowski to open the bottom of the eighth. However, Sabrowski retired the next three hitters to preserve Cleveland's one-run advantage.
The Guardians made sure there would be no late drama in the ninth.
Angel Martínez opened the inning with a single and eventually scored on a two-out RBI hit by Ramírez. After DeLauter walked, Adell ripped a two-run double into left field, extending Cleveland's lead to 7-3.
Cade Smith retired Tampa Bay in order in the bottom of the ninth, completing a victory that seemed unlikely after the Rays' fast start.
DeLauter finished with three hits, including a home run and a double, while Ramírez also collected three hits. Lowe drove in two runs, and Adell added two RBIs with his ninth-inning double.
Cleveland's bullpen was particularly effective after Griffin's departure. Espino struck out all three batters he faced in the fifth, while Joey Cantillo and Hunter Gaddis followed with scoreless innings. Sabrowski allowed the solo home run in the eighth before Smith closed things out.
The Guardians entered the series having lost five of six regular-season meetings with Tampa Bay, but Monday's victory provided an immediate reminder that October is a different story.
After winning three consecutive elimination games against Chicago, Cleveland has now taken the opening game against the American League's top seed.
What's Next
The Guardians and Rays meet Tuesday night in Game 2 at Tropicana Field. Left-hander Parker Messick is scheduled to start for Cleveland against Tampa Bay right-hander Freddy Peralta. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Cleveland will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before the ALCS shifts to Progressive Field for Game 3 on Thursday.
