Petey Halpin's Homer Lifts Guardians Past Rays in ALCS Game 3

Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the fifth inning Thursday, and the Cleveland Guardians held on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, according to ESPN. The win gives Cleveland a 2-1 series lead.

The game was played at the Guardians' home ballpark in Cleveland. Halpin's homer erased a one-run deficit and produced the final runs of the night, ESPN reported.

What happened on Halpin's home run?

The rookie center fielder connected in the fifth inning off a pitch that teammate Steven Kwan said was not an easy one to drive out. "That was a nasty one," Kwan told ESPN. "He knew the wind was blowing in and still got it." The ball barely cleared the right-center-field wall, according to the outlet. Halpin then flung his bat high into the air before starting his trip around the bases, a flip Kwan described as "ignorant -- but in a good way."

What did teammates say about Halpin?

Guardians starter Gavin Williams, who pitched Game 3, said Halpin's confidence shows up off the field as much as on it. "He's not afraid of anything," Williams told ESPN. "He's a funny guy too. He'll crack a joke with you; it doesn't matter who you are." First baseman Nathaniel Lowe added that Halpin is "feisty" and "an entertainer" with "a couple great bust bits," according to the ESPN report.

How does the win affect the ALCS standings?

Cleveland now leads Tampa Bay 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. The Guardians took the opener and dropped Game 2 before Thursday's 3-2 win, per ESPN's account of the series. A win in Game 4 would move Cleveland within one victory of the World Series; a Rays win would even the series at two games apiece.

Has Halpin delivered in big moments before?

Thursday's homer was not the rookie's first high-pressure hit this season. About a month earlier, Halpin hit a home run that helped the Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox in a game tied to the American League Central Division race, which Cleveland ultimately won by one game, ESPN reported.

What's next for the Rays?

Tampa Bay managers and players said after the loss that the team needs to make adjustments following a game in which Rays hitters struck out 13 times, according to ESPN's coverage of the series. The Rays will try to even the series when the ALCS continues.

For fans tracking the postseason bracket across sports, the Knicks have also opened single-game ticket sales following their own title run last season.