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The Tampa Bay Rays squared the American League Championship Series with a 3-1 triumph over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, tying the series at one game each as the teams prepare to shift to Cleveland for Games 3 through 5.
Pitching once again took center stage in a series that has been tightly contested between two organizations that share a similar philosophy. Both the Guardians and Rays operate as small-market clubs known for their innovative approaches to pitching development. They hold the two lowest payrolls in the American League, yet they finished with the top two seeds in the postseason bracket.
The difference in Game 2 came from the two key players the Rays acquired at the trade deadline: Freddy Peralta and Liam Hicks. Both delivered in crucial moments to secure the win.
Fastball Freddy Silences Guardians
The Rays traded for Freddy Peralta because they believed his fastball would play up in their home ballpark, and that's why they lined him up to start Game 2. Assuming the Rays maintain a four-man rotation for the ALCS, both of his starts in the series will come at Tropicana Field.
Peralta dominated the Guardians with his fastball, throwing 71 four-seamers out of his 99 pitches. According to MLB's Sarah Langs, that marked his highest fastball usage since June 11, 2019, when he was still establishing himself with the Milwaukee Brewers. The pitch also had extra life, averaging 96.9 MPH—a 2.6-MPH increase over his regular-season average. Langs also noted that it was the most pitches he has ever thrown at 97.0 MPH or higher in any start.
As a result of his fastball, Peralta fired six scoreless innings against the Guardians. The Rays bullpen handled the rest, limiting Cleveland to one run over the final three frames. Ian Seymour and Bryan Baker retired the final seven hitters to close it out.
Rays Trade Deadline Pickups Star in Game 2 Win
Peralta wasn't the only trade deadline acquisition to make an impact. The Rays acquired his batterymate, Liam Hicks, in a separate trade with the Miami Marlins. Tampa Bay sent three prospects, including 2023 first-rounder Brayden Taylor, to land Hicks from the Marlins.
The 27-year-old enjoyed a breakout season at the plate, hitting .284 with 18 home runs and an .801 OPS in 142 games between the Marlins and Rays. In addition to his strong night behind the plate, Hicks contributed at the plate. Facing All-Star left-hander Parker Messick, he roped a single to right-center to score two runs, giving the Rays a 3-0 lead. An error by Jos Ramrez at third base extended the inning and brought Hicks up to the plate.
Michael McDermott has covered MLB since the 2016 season. He previously covered the Arizona Diamondbacks for On SI and the Arizona Fall League as credentialed media during the 2022-2025 seasons. Past stops include AZ Snake Pit, Burn City Sports, and FanSided. Follow michaelmcd8393.