Overview
- The Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series after Thursday’s Game 3 at Progressive Field.
- Starter Gavin Williams retired the first nine batters and struck out nine before he was removed after five innings and roughly 70 pitches.
- The Rays briefly led 2-1 on a two-run double by Chandler Simpson in the fourth, and Petey Halpin answered with a two-run homer and emphatic bat flip in the fifth to give Cleveland the lead.
- Cleveland’s bullpen finished the game with Daniel Espino, Erik Sabrowski and Hunter Gaddis working scoreless innings and closer Cade Smith recording a four-out save that included a 10-pitch strikeout of Yandy Díaz.
- Game 4 is scheduled for Friday in Cleveland but faces possible weather delay, and both teams will monitor reliever workloads and rotation availability as the series moves forward.