What happened: Chase DeLauter, who previously homered to put Cleveland on the board in the ALCS, worked a 9-pitch at-bat to score the opening run for the Cleveland Guardians.

Why it matters: Early offense carries weight in a tight October matchup with the series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians tied 1-1. Stringing together extended plate appearances forces opposing pitching into high-stress counts from the opening frame.

What to watch: Cleveland looks to build on the early offensive momentum as postseason play continues with the series deadlocked at 1-1.