Guardians Take 2-1 ALCS Lead as Rookie Petey Halpin’s Bat Flip Goes Viral; Rain Threatens Game 4
The Cleveland Guardians are one win away from the pennant — and a rookie’s epic bat flip is the talk of baseball.
The Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in ALCS Game 3 on Thursday night at Progressive Field, taking a 2-1 series lead. The hero: 24-year-old rookie center fielder Petey Halpin, who crushed a go-ahead two-run homer in the 5th inning off Griffin Jax — then unleashed a bat flip for the ages as “Pe-tey!” chants rained down.
How Game 3 was won
- Halpin’s blast: The rookie’s fifth-inning, two-run shot turned the game and instantly became a bat-flip-of-the-year candidate, per ClutchPoints.
- Williams deals: Gavin Williams struck out nine over five innings.
- Smith slams the door: Closer Cade Smith recorded a four-out save.
Rain threatens the Guardians’ ALCS Game 4
The Guardians’ ALCS Game 4 is set for Friday night in Cleveland, but rain is in the forecast and MLB is working on contingency plans. Managers Stephen Vogt and Kevin Cash are withholding their starting pitchers until they get to the ballpark — Nick Martinez is the likely option for the Rays, per SI Fastball. Reuters reports the uncertain forecast is already scrambling both teams’ pitching plans.
The stakes: Games 6 and 7 would be on the road, so a Guardians win Friday puts Cleveland one victory from the American League pennant.
Bottom line: A rookie, a moonshot, a legendary bat flip — and now a date with the weather. Buckle up, Cleveland.
Featured image: Photo via Unsplash.
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