The Cleveland Guardians (52-49) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (54-48) 5-3 on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of the three game series. The Rays are now 3-7 since returning from the All-Star Break.
Shane McClanahan (10-4, 2.07) had his roughest outing of the season, allowing five earned runs on seven hits before being pulled after getting only one out in the fifth. He struck out four and walked three on the night.
Cleveland got three in the second but the Rays were able to rally to tie. After getting two runs back in the bottom of the second, Ji-Man Choi hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 3-3.
Unfortunately for the Rays, Cleveland was able to get a pair of baserunners on off McClanahan to start the fifth. After he was pulled for Ryan Thompson, Austin Hedges drove in a pair with a two-run single that gave the Guardians the lead for good.
The Rays are now off on Monday before beginning a short two-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES