Follow-Up: Guardians Edge Rays 3-2 to Take 2-1 ALCS Lead on Halpin's Go-Ahead Homer in the Fifth

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians edged the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday afternoon, October 15, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The game was moved up to an early-afternoon start, at about 1 p.m. local time, because of rain expected in Cleveland. GSM published a Game 3 preview earlier today; this report is the result follow-up.

Cleveland scored first in the second inning, when Nathaniel Lowe doubled in Jo Adell for a 1-0 lead. Tampa Bay went ahead in the fourth on Chandler Simpson's two-run triple, which scored Yandy Díaz and Victor Mesa Jr. In the fifth, Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead two-run home run off Rays pitcher Griffin Jax, scoring Patrick Bailey, and the Guardians held the 3-2 lead the rest of the way. According to Reuters, it was Halpin's first postseason home run, traveling about 385 feet.

Guardians starter Gavin Williams (2-0 in this postseason) pitched five innings, allowing two runs on two hits with nine strikeouts. According to Reuters, Williams has struck out 33 batters in 16 2/3 innings over four postseason appearances, the most among playoff pitchers. Four Cleveland relievers allowed only one more hit, and Cade Smith pitched a perfect final 1 1/3 innings for his second save of the series, as Guardians pitchers combined on a three-hitter. Jax took the loss.

The first two games were played in St. Petersburg, Florida: the Guardians won Game 1, 7-3, and the Rays evened the series with a 3-1 win in Game 2. Game 4 is scheduled for October 16 in Cleveland and Game 5 for October 17, also in Cleveland; if necessary, Games 6 and 7 would return to St. Petersburg. The series winner advances to the World Series, scheduled to begin October 23.

(Sources: Reuters and USA TODAY reports, October 15, 2026; score cross-checked against the Sportradar inning-by-inning record)

Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 克利夫兰守护者外野手皮蒂·哈尔平2026年5月30日在进步球场（本场第五局由他击出反超的两分全垒打）。摄影：Erik Drost，CC BY 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons（File:Petey Halpin (55315263990).jpg，本站裁切）。Cleveland Guardians outfielder Petey Halpin at Progressive Field on May 30, 2026. Photo by Erik Drost, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).

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