League date: May 15, 2027

CLEVELAND, OH — The Tampa Bay Rays scored three early runs and never looked back, defeating the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 at Progressive Field.

The Rays broke through in the third inning with a pair of home runs. Chandler Simpson launched a two-run shot to right field off Cleveland starter Parker Messick, and Jonathan Aranda followed with a solo blast to cap the three-run inning.

With an early cushion, Ian Seymour took control on the mound. The left-hander worked five innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Tampa Bay added an insurance run in the fourth when Carson Williams lined an RBI single to center, extending the lead to 4-0.

The Guardians finally broke through in the fifth. CJ Kayfus led off the inning with a single and later scored on an RBI base hit to right by offseason acquisition Daulton Varsho, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

That would be Cleveland’s only offense.

The Rays’ bullpen combined for four scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits to preserve the victory. Messick took the loss after allowing three runs, all on the pair of third-inning home runs.

AS IT STANDS…

The victory improved the Rays to 22-23, moving them within one game of the .500 mark. Tampa Bay remains third in the AL East, six games behind the first-place New York Yankees.

The Guardians fell to 25-21, dropping 2½ games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.