Photograph: Jason Miller/Getty Images

Rays punish Cleveland defensive lapses to square ALCS at two games apiece

The Tampa Bay Rays turned Cleveland’s defensive errors into a 7-3 victory on Saturday night, evening the AL Championship Series at two games apiece. A two-run seventh inning, sparked by Jonathan Aranda’s sharp single that exposed a gaping hole in right field, proved decisive as the Guardians struggled to contain Tampa Bay’s offensive momentum.

Nick Martinez delivered a strong five-and-a-third-inning performance, securing his first postseason win and keeping the Rays’ momentum alive heading into Game 5. The series now shifts to Cleveland for Sunday’s matchup, with no travel break following Friday’s rain-delayed Game 4, before returning to St.

Petersburg on Monday for Game 6 if needed. The Rays’ resilience and Cleveland’s defensive lapses set the stage for a pivotal Sunday showdown in the best-of-seven clash.

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