José Ramírez Leads Guardians’ Rally in 7–3 ALCS Game 1 Win

José Ramírez had three hits and a late RBI as the Cleveland Guardians rallied from two runs down to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7–3 at Tropicana Field on Monday, taking a 1–0 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Ramírez finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, helped set up Cleveland’s go-ahead eighth inning and added insurance in the ninth. He also contributed at third base, making a leaping catch of Jonny DeLuca’s line drive in the sixth while the Guardians were still trailing.

Watch: Ramírez’s ninth-inning RBI single

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Ramírez helps turn a tie into a Cleveland lead

With the game tied 2–2 in the eighth, Ramírez led off with an infield single and Chase DeLauter doubled him to third. Nathaniel Lowe then singled off Ian Seymour, scoring both runners to put Cleveland ahead for the first time.

Cedric Mullins answered with a solo home run in the bottom half, cutting the Guardians’ lead to 4–3. Ramírez helped restore the breathing room in the ninth, lining a single to left that scored Angel Martínez. The initial out call at first base was overturned on review.

Jo Adell followed later in the inning with a two-run double that brought home Ramírez and DeLauter, extending the margin to 7–3. Cleveland finished with 14 hits, with Ramírez and DeLauter accounting for six of them.

DeLauter and Bailey erase the early deficit

Tampa Bay took a 2–0 lead in the first on RBI singles from Junior Caminero and DeLuca. Guardians starter Foster Griffin allowed five hits and two runs over four innings, but the Rays did not score again until Mullins’ eighth-inning homer.

Drew Rasmussen kept Cleveland scoreless through five innings before DeLauter hit a solo home run in the sixth. Patrick Bailey then opened the seventh with a 436-foot homer to center field, tying the game and ending Rasmussen’s night.

DeLauter went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double and a walk, scoring three times. Bailey finished 2-for-4, while Lowe and Adell each drove in two runs.

Ramírez contributes in the field

In the sixth, with Cleveland down 2–1 and Joey Cantillo pitching, Ramírez leaped to catch DeLuca’s line drive for the second out. Cantillo worked through two walks to keep Tampa Bay’s lead at one run.

Five Cleveland relievers combined to allow one run over five innings. Daniel Espino struck out all three batters he faced in the fifth, Hunter Gaddis earned the win and Cade Smith closed the ninth on six pitches.

Cleveland now has four consecutive postseason wins after overcoming a 2–0 Division Series deficit against the White Sox. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, at 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field.

Game statistics and scoring sequence: MLB’s official box score and play-by-play.

Pitching Data: both Game 1 starters

Explore the complete pitch records, regular-season comparisons and game video for Foster Griffin’s 63-pitch start and Drew Rasmussen’s 91-pitch outing.