The Cleveland Guardians took the early advantage in the American League Championship Series, a best-of-seven matchup, with a 7-3 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Cleveland rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win Game 1 of the 2026 MLB ALCS on the 13th at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Cleveland carried its momentum into the championship series after completing a reverse sweep against the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series, winning three straight games after dropping the first two in the best-of-five matchup.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, suffered its first loss of the postseason after sweeping the New York Yankees in three games in the ALDS.
Cleveland fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning when starting pitcher Foster Griffin gave up RBI singles to Junior Caminero and Johnny DeLuca.
The Guardians shifted the momentum with two home runs. Chase DeLauter hit a solo shot in the top of the sixth to get Cleveland on the board, and Patrick Bailey followed with a solo homer in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2.
Cleveland finally took the lead in the top of the eighth. With one out and runners on second and third, Nathaniel Lowe delivered a two-run single off reliever Ian Seymour.
Tampa Bay cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the eighth on a solo home run by Cedric Mullins. But Cleveland sealed the win with three runs in the top of the ninth, scoring on an RBI single by José Ramírez and a two-run double by Jo Adell.
The teams will meet for Game 2 at the same venue on the 14th.
