Tuesday, 4 a.m.
The next step for the Tampa Bay Rays started out with a stumble Monday night.
Playing at home, with their ace pitcher on the mound, with an early two-run lead, the Rays lost 7-3 to the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field. Cleveland had 14 hits, scoring seven runs in their last four at-bats.
Drew Rasmussen, dominant in the second half of the regular season, gave up eight hits in six innings. The Rays' bullpen gave up six more hits and five more runs.
The Rays are home again tonight at 8 against Cleveland. Then the teams go to Cleveland for the next three games, which means the Rays will have to win one on the road to force the series back to the Trop.
Freddy Peralta will start for the Rays against Parker Messick.
Peralta will need more support from his offense, which is hitting just .209 in the post-season.
The Rays opened the game with four hits and two runs in the first inning. The Rays managed just three hits and one run in their last eight at-bats.
Jose Ramirez and Chase DeLaugter each had three hits for Cleveland. Yandy Diaz and Jonny DeLuca had two apiece for Tampa Bay.
Junior Caminero and DeLuca each drove in runs in the first. Cedric Mullins homered in the eighth for the Rays' final run,