Ryan Vilade singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning off Hunter Gaddis, and Steven Matz worked a season-high seven innings to rally the visiting Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.
Cleanup hitter Vilade had two RBI singles in a three-inning span as the Rays scored three unanswered runs to erase a 2-0 deficit. Vilade knocked in Yandy Diaz in the sixth and plated pinch-runner Richie Palacios in the eighth.
Jonathan Aranda hit a leadoff homer in the eighth off Gaddis (0-1) to tie the score, paving the way for Tampa Bay’s fifth consecutive victory. The Rays are 12-1 against American League opponents and have the second-best record in the Junior Circuit.
Matz (4-1) gave up two runs on four hits, only allowing multiple baserunners in the fifth. The left-hander struck out two and walked one in a 95-pitch outing, remaining unbeaten in nine lifetime appearances against Cleveland at 4-0.
Ian Seymour pitched the eighth, and Bryan Baker worked a shaky ninth for his seventh save. Kyle Manzardo singled, and Chase DeLauter doubled with one out before Baker struck out George Valera and Daniel Schneemann.
Cleveland took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on Schneemann’s two-run homer to left off Matz. It scored David Fry, who reached on a walk after umpire Jacob Metz called strike three. Fry challenged the call, and it was turned into ball four on the replay.
Vilade went 3-for-4, tying his career high in hits, and is batting .344 on the season. The offseason acquisition from the Cincinnati Reds is 11-for-24 (.458) in his last 10 games.
Guardians starter Parker Messick tied his career high with nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits. The left-hander lowered his ERA to 1.73 — the third best in the AL — and walked a pair.
All six of Messick’s starts have taken place after Cleveland losses. The Guardians are now 5-1 in them, matching Tampa Bay’s record in starts by Matz.
