Guardians Win ALCS Game 1 7-3 as 5 Late Runs Sink Rays

Q: Will Tropicana Field’s emotional first postseason since Hurricane Milton's devastation provide the spark Tampa Bay desperately needs?

It can help, but it is unlikely to be enough on its own. Tropicana Field’s return to October after Hurricane Milton has clearly added emotion and meaning for Tampa Bay. The Rays were excellent there all season, going 55-26 at home, a franchise record, and the crowd has been stronger and more energized since the stadium reopened in April 2026 after major repairs. That setting can give Tampa Bay a real boost, especially in a series where margins are expected to be small. But Game 1 also showed the limits of atmosphere alone. The Rays got the early lead, Drew Rasmussen gave them five strong innings, and the building had reason to believe. Yet Cleveland stayed composed, tied the game with solo homers, then broke through against Tampa Bay’s bullpen with five late runs over the final two innings. That points to the bigger issue: execution. The emotional backdrop did not prevent six Rays pitchers from being worn down, nor did it stop José Ramírez and Cleveland’s lineup from producing 14 hits. The better case for Tampa Bay is that the setting can sharpen, not replace, what already made the Rays the AL’s top seed: elite home performance, deep pitching and clean situational baseball. If the Rays pair that energy with better bullpen management and more late-inning offense, Tropicana Field can absolutely be a spark. If they repeat the Game 1 mistakes, the emotion of the moment will not be enough against a Cleveland club that has shown it can thrive under pressure.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 13

Five late runs over the final two innings carried Cleveland past Tampa Bay 7-3 in ALCS Game 1 at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay led 2-0 early behind Drew Rasmussen, who struck out seven in five-plus innings, before Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey tied it with solo homers.
Nathaniel Lowe's two-run single in the eighth put Cleveland ahead 4-2, and after Cedric Mullins cut it to 4-3 with a pinch-hit homer, Jose Ramirez and Jo Adell drove in three ninth-inning insurance runs.
Fourteen hits from Cleveland's lineup — including six combined by Ramirez and DeLauter — left the Rays, coming off a Yankees sweep, trailing 1-0 heading into Tuesday's Game 2.