Guardians rally past Rays 7-3 in ALCS Game 1

The Tampa Bay Rays left Tropicana Field on Monday night with their confidence shaken after a late collapse handed the Cleveland Guardians a 7-3 victory in American League Championship Series Game 1.

Cleveland scored five unanswered runs over the final two innings to seize control in front of the home crowd. The Rays, riding momentum from a sweep of the New York Yankees, couldn't hold on as their bullpen unraveled.

"This is a tough one to swallow," one Rays player said afterward, reflecting the mood in the visiting clubhouse.

Tampa Bay built a 2-0 lead in the first inning on consecutive RBI hits from Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca. Rays starter Drew Rasmussen kept that advantage intact through five solid innings, striking out seven batters against a Cleveland lineup that initially appeared contained.

The Guardians began chipping away in the sixth. Chase DeLauter hit a solo home run off Rasmussen's fastball to cut the lead in half. Patrick Bailey connected on a solo shot down the right-field line in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2.

Cleveland broke through in the eighth. José Ramírez started the rally with an infield single, DeLauter followed with a double, and Nathaniel Lowe's single put the Guardians ahead 4-2.

Cedric Mullins answered for Tampa Bay with a solo home run to right to make it 4-3, but Cleveland extended the lead in the ninth. Ramírez, who finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, lined a single into right off Cole Sulser to make it 5-3. After Sulser walked DeLauter, Jo Adell delivered a two-run double down the third-base line to seal the outcome at 7-3.

The Guardians out-hit Tampa Bay decisively, collecting 14 hits against six different Rays pitchers. Ramírez and DeLauter combined for six hits.

For the Rays, the loss stings because they controlled much of the game early. Their bullpen—Wells, Seymour, Sabrowski, Sulser and Kelly—couldn't close the door when the game remained within reach.

Game 2 is Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays have the opportunity to even the series but will do so knowing they surrendered a game they led and controlled for most of the night.