Jonathan Aranda Drives In Three as Rays Even ALCS

Jonathan Aranda drove in three runs and Yandy Díaz added a two-run homer in the ninth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 on Saturday night, leveling the 2026 American League Championship Series at two games apiece.

The Rays answered Cleveland’s early lead with a patient, sustained attack at Progressive Field. Aranda tied the game with an RBI single in the third inning, then delivered a two-run single in the seventh to stretch Tampa Bay’s advantage to 4-1. The victory guarantees the series will return to St. Petersburg after Sunday’s Game 5.

Rays’ middle innings turn Game 4

Cleveland struck first when Chase DeLauter singled home a run in the opening inning. Tampa Bay responded in the third, when Aranda brought Yandy Díaz home to make it 1-1.

Junior Caminero broke the tie with an RBI double in the sixth. Aranda then produced the game’s decisive swing an inning later, lining his second run-scoring single of the night to bring home two more runs.

Freddy Peralta preserved the lead by escaping a two-runner threat in the bottom of the sixth. Tampa Bay’s bullpen absorbed the remaining innings after starter Nick Martinez, limiting Cleveland’s chances to turn the game back around.

The Guardians kept pushing. Travis Bazzana homered in the seventh, and Brayan Rocchio added an RBI single later in the inning to cut the margin to 5-3. But Cleveland’s defense also supplied a major early play when Petey Halpin robbed Junior Caminero of extra bases at the center-field wall.

Yandy Díaz closes the door

Díaz removed any late suspense in the ninth. The former Cleveland infielder launched a two-run homer off Matt Festa, pushing Tampa Bay’s lead to four runs before Bryan Baker struck out Ángel Martínez to finish the game.

The result resets the best-of-seven series after Cleveland had taken a 2-1 lead behind Petey Halpin’s go-ahead homer in Game 3. Game 5 is scheduled for Sunday in Cleveland, with the rainout forcing the teams to play the remainder of the series on consecutive days.

For Tampa Bay, the most important change was production from the top of the order. Aranda and Díaz combined for five RBIs, while Caminero supplied the go-ahead hit. After scoring only seven runs across the first three games, the Rays matched their series high and turned the ALCS into a best-of-three.