Freddy Peralta Shuts Down Guardians as Rays Even ALCS

Freddy Peralta delivered six scoreless innings and Liam Hicks drove in two runs as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, leveling the American League Championship Series at one game apiece.

After Cleveland’s late surge decided the opener, Tampa Bay answered with pitching and one decisive fourth inning. Peralta allowed four hits, struck out six and kept the Guardians off the scoreboard before the Rays’ bullpen protected the lead.

Hicks turns Cleveland error into three-run inning

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Victor Mesa Jr. reached on an error by José Ramírez and came around with the first run, giving Tampa Bay an opening after Cleveland starter Parker Messick had worked through the first three innings.

Hicks then supplied the biggest hit of the night. Batting eighth, the catcher lined a two-run single that scored Ben Williamson and Jonny DeLuca, stretching the Rays’ lead to 3-0.

All three runs against Messick were unearned. The rookie left-hander completed five innings, but Tampa Bay’s ability to capitalize on the defensive mistake changed the game.

Peralta controls Game 2 with his fastball

Peralta leaned heavily on his four-seam fastball and generated 15 swinging strikes, preventing Cleveland from building the kind of sustained rally that carried the Guardians to a 7-3 win in Game 1. His six scoreless innings gave the Rays a clean path to the late innings.

Cleveland finally broke through in the seventh. Chase DeLauter doubled home José Ramírez against Ian Seymour to cut the deficit to 3-1, but Seymour escaped without allowing another run.

The Guardians did not score again. Seymour worked through the eighth, and Bryan Baker finished the ninth for his fourth save of the postseason, the most in a single postseason in Rays history.

ALCS shifts to Cleveland tied 1-1

The result sends the best-of-seven series to Progressive Field tied rather than with Cleveland holding a two-game advantage. The Guardians host Games 3, 4 and 5, beginning Thursday.

Tampa Bay’s response also restored home-field balance after the Rays dropped the opener despite scoring first. Peralta’s command and Hicks’ timely hit ensured the series will return to Tropicana Field if a sixth game is needed.