Guardians take 2-1 ALCS lead on Petey Halpin homer and outpitching Rays

Rookie Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead, two-run homer, Gavin Williams struck out nine over five innings and the hometown Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 3 Thursday to take a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Game 4 in the best-of-seven matchup is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. ET, though rain is forecast.

"It's the second time he's kind of picked us up in a big spot this year. And a really fun moment for him, great swing," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said.

José Ramírez had two hits and Nathaniel Lowe added an RBI for the Guardians, who have won five of their last six playoff games since trailing the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in their AL Division Series.

Cleveland also improved to 6-1 in ALCS Game 3s, including 5-1 at home and six wins in a row since a 1995 loss against Seattle.

Patrick Bailey started the fifth with a chop that pitcher Griffin Jax was unable to cleanly field. Halpin connected on a elevated 95.9 mile-per-hour sinker on a 2-2 count and drove it 385 feet into the stands in right-centre for a 3-2 lead.

Halpin watched the ball clear the wall and then did an emphatic bat flip over his head before rounding the bases.

"I definitely threw it high. I think just the moment and that being for sure the biggest moment of my career, just the energy and the excitement, just kind of let it go," Halpin said.

Freddy Peralta, Liam Hicks lift the Rays to a Game 2 win over Guardians

It was Halpin's first post-season home run and only the fifth overall of his two year big league career. It was the first time Jax allowed a homer since Sept. 9, a span of five appearances.

"I knew I hit it good. I thought I got more of it, I guess," Halpin said. "I knew that he used a sinker in a few times