Peralta shines as Rays seize on Ramírez error to level ALCS against Guardians

Tampa Bay pitcher Freddy Peralta celebrates after recording the final out of the fifth inning against Cleveland during Game 2 of the ALCS on Tuesday night in St Petersburg, Florida. Photograph: Mike Stobe/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenTampa Bay pitcher Freddy Peralta celebrates after recording the final out of the fifth inning against Cleveland during Game 2 of the ALCS on Tuesday night in St Petersburg, Florida. Photograph: Mike Stobe/Getty ImagesPeralta shines as Rays seize on Ramírez error to level ALCS against GuardiansFreddy Peralta pitches six scoreless innings in 3-1 win

José Ramírez error opens door to three-run fourth

ALCS heads to Cleveland at 1-1 for Thursday’s Game 3

Freddy Peralta pitched six innings of four-hit ball, Liam Hicks lined a two-run single after a fielding error by José Ramírez and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Tuesday night to level the American League Championship Series at 1-1.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Cleveland.

Ramírez, whose two-run homer in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against Chicago helped the Guardians become the 11th team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series, misplayed a grounder in the fourth inning that led to three unearned runs against rookie left-hander Parker Messick.

Junior Caminero walked to start the inning and Victor Mesa Jr grounded into a forceout that was originally ruled a double play. The Rays challenged the calls at both first and second base, and Mesa was ruled safe after a video review overturned first-base umpire Mark Ripperger’s decision.

After Jonny DeLuca struck out, Chandler Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop, and Mesa reached third standing up when Ramírez failed to cover the bag.

Ben Williamson followed with a grounder that scooted under Ramírez’s glove and between his legs after the ball hit the edge where the artificial turf met the infield dirt. The third baseman played back rather than charging.

Williamson reached second and Simpson advanced to third. Hicks drove the next pitch to right-center for a 3-0 lead, electrifying the towel-waving, cowbell-ringing crowd of 32,125 at Tropicana Field.

Peralta and three relievers needed no more support.

With fans chanting “Freddy! Freddy! Freddy!”, Peralta struck out six to earn the win. He was fired up as he walked off the mound in the sixth after striking out Petey Halpin swinging on a full-count changeup.

Kevin Kelly recorded two outs in the seventh, retiring Ramírez on a fly ball to center with two runners on.

Left-hander Ian Seymour replaced him, and Chase DeLauter lined an RBI double into the right-field corner.

View image in fullscreenRays teammates Taylor Walls and Richie Palacios celebrate after their 3-1 win over the Guardians in Game 2 on Tuesday night. Photograph: Julio Aguilar/Getty ImagesSeymour struck out Jo Adell swinging on a changeup, stranding runners at second and third. He pitched a perfect eighth before Bryan Baker retired the side in order in the ninth for his fourth postseason save.

Acquired by the Rays from the Mets at the trade deadline, Peralta turned his season around in Tampa Bay, going 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts after posting a 4.99 ERA for New York.

Messick, who grew up attending Rays games at Tropicana Field, took the loss after allowing six hits and three unearned runs in five innings.

Cleveland had won four straight postseason games for the first time since winning their first six playoff games in 2016 on their way to a World Series berth.

The 98-win Rays swept the New York Yankees in the Division Series before losing Monday’s ALCS opener 7-3.