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Freddy Peralta, Liam Hicks lift the Rays to a 3-1 win over the Guardians that evens the ALCS at 1-1

Freddy Peralta secured the victory for the Tampa Bay Rays by pitching six innings while allowing just four hits and striking out six batters, leading his team to a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. The win, which evens the American League Championship Series at one game apiece, was powered by a two-run single from Liam Hicks that resulted from a defensive error by José Ramírez in the fourth inning.

That defensive lapse allowed the Rays to load the bases against rookie left-hander Parker Messick, who took the loss after surrendering six hits and three unearned runs over five frames. The bullpen, including Kevin Kelly, Ian Seymour, and Bryan Baker, preserved the lead, with Baker recording his fourth postseason save in a perfect ninth inning.

The next contest in the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Thursday night in Cleveland.

Peralta, acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, has revitalized his campaign in Tampa Bay, posting a 3.25 ERA and a 5-2 record in ten starts compared to his previous 4.99 ERA with New York. The game featured a controversial play in the fourth inning where Victor Mesa Jr.

was ruled safe at first base after a video review overturned an initial double-play call. Junior Caminero, who played every regular-season game and hit 42 home runs, remained in the lineup despite a collision with Jonny DeLuca earlier in the tournament.

The crowd of 32,125 at Tropicana Field witnessed the Rays snap a four-game postseason winning streak for Cleveland, which had not won four straight playoff games since their 2016 run to the World Series.

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Peralta shines as Rays seize on Ramírez error to level ALCS against Guardians