Nick Martinez delivers a strong start as Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz power Tampa Bay to a victory in Cleveland, tying the American League Championship Series at 2-2.
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Jonathan Aranda collected three hits, Yandy Díaz delivered a late home run and starting pitcher Nick Martinez helped Tampa Bay even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
The game had originally been scheduled for Friday night but was postponed because of persistent rain in Cleveland. The delay pushed Game 4 to Saturday and eliminated a scheduled off day, requiring both teams to adjust their pitching plans for the remainder of the series.
Tampa Bay’s victory guarantees that the ALCS will return to Florida for Game 6 on Monday. Game 5 is scheduled for Sunday in Cleveland, with the winner moving within one victory of advancing to the World Series.
Nick Martinez Gives Tampa Bay a Strong Start
Martinez entered Saturday’s game with considerable responsibility after the Rays fell behind 2-1 in the series. Manager Kevin Cash kept him as the Game 4 starter despite having another day to reconsider the team’s pitching rotation following the postponement.
The 36-year-old right-hander rewarded that decision by allowing just one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He earned his first career postseason victory and prevented Cleveland from building an early advantage.
Martinez encountered trouble in the first inning when Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter delivered an RBI single to put Cleveland ahead 1-0. After that, the pitcher settled into a rhythm and retired 10 consecutive batters before issuing a fifth-inning walk to Travis Bazzana.
The performance continued Martinez’s success against Cleveland. During the 2026 regular season, he won both of his starts against the Guardians while allowing no runs over 13 innings.
Martinez finished the regular season with a 15-6 record and a 3.10 ERA across 31 starts. His ability to pitch into the sixth inning Saturday gave Tampa Bay valuable stability in a series complicated by the compressed schedule.
Rays Break Through Against Cleveland Bullpen
Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt approached Game 4 differently, choosing to use several pitchers rather than rely on a traditional starter. Former Rays reliever Shawn Armstrong opened the game before handing the ball to Foster Griffin.
Armstrong recorded a scoreless first inning, while Griffin helped keep Tampa Bay’s offense under control during the early stages. The strategy initially worked, but the Rays gradually found opportunities against Cleveland’s relief pitchers.
Tampa Bay began creating pressure in the middle innings before taking a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Junior Caminero delivered the decisive hit, driving a double toward the left-field wall against Daniel Espino.
The Rays then scored three more runs in the seventh, capitalizing on consecutive hits and defensive problems that proved costly for Cleveland. Richie Palacios and Taylor Walls reached base before executing a double steal to move into scoring position.
Aranda followed with a single that got past second baseman Bazzana and continued into right field. Palacios scored, and Walls came home when DeLauter failed to field the ball cleanly.
The error also allowed Aranda to advance to third base. Chandler Simpson then lifted a sacrifice fly that brought Aranda home, extending Tampa Bay’s advantage to 5-1.
The three-run seventh inning turned a narrow contest into a four-run lead. Cleveland’s defense contributed to the damage, while Tampa Bay took advantage of opportunities that had been limited during the opening three games.
Aranda and Díaz Lead Tampa Bay’s Offense
Aranda entered Game 4 searching for his first hit of the championship series after going hitless in his previous 10 at-bats. He responded with three hits and two RBIs, becoming one of the central figures in Tampa Bay’s offensive improvement.
Díaz also played a major role, finishing with two hits and two RBIs. His ninth-inning home run against Cleveland reliever Matt Festa brought home two runs and gave the Rays additional protection.
Tampa Bay finished with 11 hits, with its first four hitters producing six of them. The combination of Díaz, Aranda, Simpson and Caminero accounted for six runs driven in after struggling collectively during the previous three games.
That production represented a significant improvement for a team that had struggled to maintain offensive pressure earlier in the series. The Rays scored three runs in their Game 1 loss, managed three in their Game 2 victory and were limited to two in Game 3.
Cleveland had entered Saturday with momentum after winning Game 3 by a 3-2 score. Petey Halpin’s two-run home run in that contest helped the Guardians take control of the series before Friday’s rainout interrupted the schedule.
Guardians Rally but Cannot Overcome Deficit
Cleveland’s offense showed signs of life late in Saturday’s game, but the Guardians could not overcome Tampa Bay’s lead. Travis Bazzana hit his first postseason home run, while Brayan Rocchio contributed an RBI single during the comeback attempt.
Bazzana’s performance reflected Cleveland’s uneven night. His home run helped the Guardians offensively, but he also committed a fielding error during Tampa Bay’s decisive seventh inning.
José Ramírez, one of Cleveland’s most important hitters, extended his postseason streak of reaching base to 16 games. The achievement tied a franchise record, although it was not enough to change the outcome.
The Guardians entered the series after overcoming a 2-0 deficit against the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series. Their ability to recover from difficult postseason situations had already been tested before Saturday’s defeat.
Cleveland now faces a different challenge. With the series tied, the Guardians must win at least one more game to force a decisive seventh contest if Tampa Bay takes advantage of its remaining opportunities.
Rainout Changes the ALCS Schedule
Friday’s postponement created additional complications for both managers. Major League Baseball delayed the original game for approximately an hour before determining that conditions at Progressive Field were unsuitable for play.
The revised schedule placed Game 4 on Saturday and Game 5 on Sunday, leaving no rest day before the series moves to Tampa Bay. If necessary, Game 7 will take place Tuesday, October 20.
The condensed schedule places greater importance on bullpen management. Cleveland used several pitchers Saturday, while Tampa Bay benefited from Martinez working into the sixth inning and limiting the Guardians’ scoring opportunities.
Game 5 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern on Sunday at Progressive Field. The series then returns to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where the Rays will host Game 6 on Monday.
The winner of the American League Championship Series will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series. Milwaukee advanced after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, securing its first World Series appearance since 1982.
The World Series is scheduled to begin Friday, October 23, in Milwaukee. Before either American League team can turn its attention to that matchup, Cleveland and Tampa Bay must settle a series that is now tied after four games.
Saturday’s victory gave the Rays a fresh opportunity after entering the night facing a potential 3-1 deficit. Cleveland still has another home game to regain the advantage, but the series is guaranteed to continue in Florida regardless of Sunday’s result.
IMAGE: In-game action during the Cleveland Guardians vs. Milwaukee Brewers game at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (United States). Milwaukee won 2–0.. Photo: Michael Barera / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0