- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in ALCS Game 4 on Saturday, tying the series at two games apiece after a pivotal seventh-inning miscue.
Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter misplayed a Jonathan Aranda single, allowing the ball to get under his glove for an error. Two runs scored on the play and Aranda advanced to third base. Aranda later came home on a Chandler Simpson sacrifice fly as part of a four-run inning that gave Tampa Bay a 5-1 lead.
Cleveland responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Rays added two insurance runs in the ninth to seal the victory.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said the ball may have skipped past DeLauter or taken an odd bounce that drew his eyes away. Cleveland second baseman Travis Bazzana defended DeLauter, noting he has been unreal all year.
DeLauter told ESPN to put the loss on him, saying he simply missed a ground ball under his glove. He added that with the tied series and another home game ahead, the team needs to move on and improve.
Source: ESPN - Sun Oct 18, 1:25 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).