Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan singles against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning in Game 1 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
St. Petersburg, FL – Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey homered, and Jose Ramirez had three of the Cleveland Guardians 14 hits as they captured game one of the ALCS defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Monday night at Tropicana Field.
The Rays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Yandy Diaz double, a sacrifice bunt by Jonathan Aranda, and a RBI single by Junior Caminero to plate Diaz with the Rays first run. Later in the inning Jonny DeLuca delivered a 2-out single to score Caminero who had advanced to second on a Victor Mesa Jr. single
Drew Rasmussen worked 6+ innings and allowed a pair of runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking none. The only runs he allowed were on solo homers. Chase DeLauter connected on a solo homer leading off the sixth inning and Patrick Bailey led off the seventh inning with a solo homer of his own tying the game at 2-2 and ending Rasmussen’s night.
The Rays did all their damage in the first inning off Guardians starter Foster Griffin who worked four innings allowing the two earned runs on five hits while striking out three, walking none, and hitting a batter. Daniel Espino and Joey Cantillo held the Rays offense in check while the Guardians chipped away at the lead finally tying the game on Bailey’s homer to lead off the seventh. Hunter Gaddis worked the bottom of the seventh and kept the Rays off the board and keeping the score tied.
Cam Booser replaced Rasmussen and retired all three batters he faced before turning the ball over to Tyler Wells to open the eighth. Jose Ramirez reached on an infield to single to lead off the inning and moved to third on a double by DeLauter. Wells induced an infield groundout by Jo Adell as the runners held. Ian Seymour came in from the bullpen and allowed a 2-RBI single to Nathaniel Lowe to put Cleveland on top 4-2.
Cleveland brought in Erik Sabrowski to protect the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Cedric Mullins led off the inning with a solo homer to cut the lead to 4-3 but Sabrowski settled in and set the next three hitters down in order.
Cole Sulser entered in the ninth inning and allowed a lead off single to Angel Martinez who advanced to second on a balk. He scored on a 2-out single by Jose Ramirez to extend Cleveland’s lead to 5-3. After Sulser issued a walk to Chase DeLauter he was replaced by Kevin Kelly. Jo Adell immediately delivered a 2-RBI double to extend the lead to 7-3.
During the top of the ninth inning the Rays and their fans endured a scary few minutes when Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca collided down the left-field line attempted to track down a foul ball. DeLuca popped right up but Caminero was in visible pain as the Kevin Cash and the trainer tended to him. Caminero, to the relief of many, remained in the game. After the game, Cash said the Caminero had the wind knocked out of him and should be o.k.
Cade Smith entered the game in a non-save situation in the ninth and retired the Rays in order to secure the win for the Guardians.
Hunter Gaddis picks up the win for Cleveland while Tyler Wells takes the loss for Tampa Bay. The time of game was 2:57 and the attendance was 35,361.
Up Next:
The Rays and Guardians will continue their best of seven series on Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m. EST. The Rays will be sending Freddy Peralta to the mound. The Guardians have yet to announce their Game 2 starter but it’s expected to be Plant City native Parker Messick.
