Rays beat Guardians 3-1 behind Peralta to even the ALCS at one game each

Freddy Peralta threw six scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays evened the American League Championship Series with a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.

Three unearned runs in the fourth

The game stayed scoreless until the fourth. Jose Ramirez booted a ground ball that would have ended the inning and Victor Mesa Jr. scored the first run. Liam Hicks followed with a two-run single and Tampa Bay led 3-0. All three runs were unearned.

Peralta struck out six and walked off to a standing ovation after finishing the sixth. Combined with his AL Division Series work he has allowed one run in 10 1/3 playoff innings.

Guardians get one back

Chase DeLauter cut the deficit to 3-1 with an RBI double in the seventh. Cleveland had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position but Ian Seymour struck out Jo Adell to end the threat. Bryan Baker closed it out as Tampa Bay tied the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

Parker Messick lasted five innings for Cleveland and allowed the three unearned runs. The Guardians managed six hits.

Series shifts to Cleveland

Game 3 is Thursday at Progressive Field. Game 4 is Friday and a potential Game 5 is Saturday before the series would return to St. Petersburg if needed.