The American League Championship Series is tied. Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 7-3 on Saturday night in Game 4 at Progressive Field, and the best of seven is now a best of three.

Cleveland scored first in the first inning. Tampa Bay tied it in the third, and Junior Caminero's run scoring double in the sixth put the Rays in front for good at 2-1. The Rays added three runs in the seventh, helped by a Chase DeLauter error in right field on Jonathan Aranda's single.

Cleveland cut it to 5-3 in the seventh on a Travis Bazzana solo homer and a Brayan Rocchio run scoring single. Yandy Diaz closed the door with a two run homer in the ninth off Matt Festa.

Nick Martinez won it for Tampa Bay with five and a third innings of one run ball on two hits, retiring 11 straight batters at one point. Aranda had three hits and drove in two runs, and the first four hitters in the Rays order combined for six of the team's 11 hits and six runs batted in after going 7 for 41 in the first three games.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt pointed at the defense. "There were a couple unfortunate plays for us tonight that we usually complete," he said.

Game 5 is Sunday at 5:08 PM ET in Cleveland on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. Drew Rasmussen starts for Tampa Bay and Parker Messick starts for Cleveland. Game 6 is Monday back in St. Petersburg and a Game 7 would follow on Tuesday if needed.

Key Facts

  • Final: Rays 7, Guardians 3 in ALCS Game 4 at Progressive Field
  • Series: Tied 2-2. Game 5 Sunday 5:08 PM ET in Cleveland.
  • Winning pitcher: Nick Martinez: 5.1 IP, one run, two hits
  • Key bats: Jonathan Aranda 3 hits and 2 RBI. Yandy Diaz two run HR in the ninth.
  • Game 5: Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA) vs Parker Messick (12-9, 2.56 ERA)

VIA Reuters, Associated Press, USA Today.

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