The Cleveland Guardians won game one of the best-of-three Wild Card series 2-1 on Friday afternoon in Cleveland. The Guardians are now one win away from advancing to the ALDS, while the Rays are one loss away from seeing their season come to an end.
This game was a pitcher's duel throughout. Guardians ace Shane Bieber (1-0, 1.17 in Postseason) pitched into the eighth inning, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out eight and walking one. The only blemish to his game was when Jose Siri ran into a home run that went into right field to give the Rays a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning.
The Guardians answered in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Rays ace Shane McClanahan to take a 2-1 lead. The Rays challenged that both runners had touched second base, but the two-run homer was upheld and would prove to be enough for Cleveland to get the win.
McClanahan (0-1, 2.57 in Postseason) finished what was otherwise a brilliant start throwing 85 pitches in seven innings of work. He allowed just the two earned runs while allowing seven hits, striking out five and walking none.
The Rays and Guardians now meet in the second game of the best-of-three series on Saturday afternoon with the Rays looking to keep their postseason bid alive. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 12:07 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 11:30 AM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620. Then Dave Wills and Andy Freed bring you the only local call of Rays baseball in the postseason beginning at 12:00 PM.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES