Petey Halpin delivered the decisive blow in Game 3, launching a go-ahead two-run homer as the Guardians topped the Rays 3-2 on Thursday night. Cleveland now leads the ALCS 2-1 and is one win away from advancing to the World Series.
The homer came at the right moment for a Guardians team that needed to protect home field. Tampa Bay has shown it can scratch out runs, so Halpin's two-run shot essentially settled matters in what remained a tight contest. The Rays got to two runs but couldn't catch up, leaving Cleveland in control of the series heading back to Tampa.
The Guardians came into this matchup as the higher seed for a reason. They're getting timely hitting when it counts. Halpin proved that in the biggest moment Thursday, and now Cleveland sits in the driver's seat with their ace ready for Game 4. One more win and they're playing for a championship.