The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays at home on Friday by a final score of 2-1, taking a 1-0 lead in the American League Wildcard round.
For Cleveland, the Guardians only accumulated eight total hits on the day and were trailing 1-0 until the bottom of the 6th inning, when All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homerun to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead and eventual win.
Cleveland’s pitching was critical to the win against Tampa Bay, with ace pitcher Shane Bieber getting the win for going 7.2 innings, striking out eight batters and allowing only three hits for one earned run. Closer Emmanuel Clase entered the ball game in the top of the 8th inning with two outs and got the save for going 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, while striking out a batter.
For Tampa Bay, the Rays accumulated only three hits the entire day and got on the board in the top of the 6th inning, when outfielder Jose Siri hit a solo homerun to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.
Tampa Bay’s pitching was also critical to keeping the game close, with ace pitcher Shane McClanahan suffering a loss for going 7.0 complete innings, striking out five batters and allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Relief pitcher Garrett Cleavinger entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning and kept it a one-run game heading into the 9th inning, pitching 1.0 complete inning and striking out two batters while allowing only one hit.
The Guardians will attempt to win Game 2 and the best-of-three series against the Tampa Bay Rays at home on Saturday, October 8th, with first pitch set for 12:10 p.m.