Mistakes Cost Guards: Rays Even ALCS at One a Piece

On October 13, 2026, Shawn Armstrong of the Cleveland Guardians was replaced in the seventh inning of game two of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Freddy Peralta, a 2026 Trade Deadline acquisition, took the mound for the Rays while Parker Messick faced the Guardians. Messick, a local kid from Plant City, Florida, was looking to bounce back from his shaky first postseason start.

The Guardians planned to attack Peralta early, with batters swinging at first pitch, resulting in 5 strikeouts. Peralta showed resilience, striking out Johnny DeLuca and getting weak pops from Travis and Hedges. The Rays, however, had some issues, including a leadoff man reaching base with three consecutive batters, which might be a trend the Guardians will regret.

Chandler Simpson's ability to turn double plays was key, as he managed to make an out in a crucial 4-6-3 double play in the fourth inning. Overall, the game remained scoreless through the third inning, but the Guardians took control as Peralta continued to excel.