TAMPA (Interstat) — Freddy Peralta pitched six scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays used a three-run rally in the middle innings to beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Tuesday night in Game 2 of the ALCS at George Steinbrenner Field. The series is tied at one win apiece after Cleveland won the opener 7-3 on Monday, and it shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Thursday. The announced attendance was 32,125 and the game took 2 hours, 42 minutes. Cleveland finished with six hits, while Tampa Bay had seven.

Cleveland put runners on base early but could not convert. Steven Kwan singled to open the game, but José Ramírez flew out to center fielder Jonny DeLuca, Chase DeLauter struck out on a foul tip and Jo Adell flew out to right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. In the second, Travis Bazzana singled on a line drive to center, Petey Halpin struck out swinging and Austin Hedges was hit by a pitch after a Tampa Bay challenge was upheld. Brayan Rocchio struck out on a foul tip to end the threat. The Guardians also got a two-out single from Ramírez in the fifth and a two-out walk from DeLauter, but Adell lined out to center. Cleveland left runners in scoring position in the first, second, fifth and seventh.

Tampa Bay had its own early chances. Junior Caminero doubled in the first, but Victor Mesa Jr. struck out swinging. In the second, DeLuca singled and Chandler Simpson grounded into a double play before Ben Williamson walked and was picked off first by Parker Messick. In the third, Liam Hicks and Taylor Walls singled, but Yandy Díaz grounded into a double play that moved Hicks to third and erased Walls at second. Jonathan Aranda then grounded out to end the inning. The Rays challenged a play at first in the fourth, and the call on the field was overturned, but the force play was upheld.

The decisive sequence came in the fourth. Caminero walked, and Victor Mesa Jr. grounded into a forceout that retired Caminero at second. DeLuca struck out swinging for the second out, but Chandler Simpson singled on a ground ball to shortstop, moving Mesa to third. Ben Williamson then reached on a fielding error by third baseman José Ramírez. Mesa scored on the play, Simpson advanced to third and Williamson took second. Liam Hicks followed with a two-run single to center, scoring Simpson and Williamson. Taylor Walls struck out swinging to end the inning, but Tampa Bay had all the runs it needed. Hicks finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Cleveland finally broke through in the seventh. Patrick Bailey walked after a pitch-result challenge was overturned. Rocchio flew out to center, and Kwan singled to left, moving Bailey to second. Ramírez flew out to center, but DeLauter doubled sharply to right field, scoring Bailey and sending Kwan to third. Jo Adell struck out swinging, ending the inning. DeLauter finished 1 for 2 with one RBI and two walks. The Guardians could not mount another threat against the Tampa Bay bullpen.

Tampa Bay’s bullpen protected the lead after Peralta departed. Ian Seymour gave the Rays 1 1/3 innings of one-hit relief with two strikeouts. Kevin Kelly allowed one hit and one earned run in 2/3 of an inning. Bryan Baker worked a scoreless ninth for his 45th save, allowing no hits and striking out one. In the bottom of the seventh, Taylor Walls bunt-popped to pitcher Shawn Armstrong, Díaz struck out swinging and Aranda lined out sharply to left. In the eighth, Caminero and Victor Mesa Jr. struck out swinging before DeLuca grounded out to shortstop. In the top of the eighth for Cleveland, Nathaniel Lowe lined out to second baseman Richie Palacios, Bazzana lined out sharply to shortstop Taylor Walls and Angel Martínez struck out swinging. In the ninth, Bailey struck out swinging, Rocchio flew out to right and Kwan grounded out to short.

Peralta, the winning pitcher, improved to 11-11. He allowed four hits over six innings, walked two and struck out six. Messick, the losing pitcher, fell to 12-11. He allowed six hits over five innings, walked two and struck out three while not allowing an earned run. Armstrong followed with 1 2/3 innings of one-hit relief for Cleveland, Slade Cecconi struck out two in a scoreless inning and Tim Herrin retired the only batter he faced. Seymour struck out two for Tampa Bay, Kelly was charged with the lone Cleveland run and Baker closed the game. The Rays grounded into two double plays. Cleveland pitchers combined for 13 strikes, 44 balls and 13 balls in play. Tampa Bay pitchers combined for 11 strikes, 41 balls and 11 balls in play.

The result was shaped most by Peralta’s ability to keep Cleveland off the scoreboard despite traffic. He struck out six and walked two, and the Guardians could not convert their best chances. Messick kept Tampa Bay without an earned run, but the fourth-inning error opened the door for Hicks. Baker then closed the door in the ninth. Cleveland’s bullpen did not allow an earned run over 3 1/3 innings, but the offense managed only one run on DeLauter’s double.

Cleveland’s season record is now 89-80. Tampa Bay’s season record is now 102-65. The Rays will head to Cleveland for the next games in the series, with Game 3 scheduled for Thursday. Tampa Bay’s win followed a 7-3 loss to Cleveland in Game 1 on Monday and set up a pivotal stretch in Cleveland.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cleveland Guardians 5, Tampa Bay Rays 9. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tampa Bay with a 58.8 percent probability to win. Tampa Bay had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 4 went over the over/under line of 6.5.