CLEVELAND (AP) — Ryan Vilade had three hits and drove in two runs, including the go-ahead single in the eighth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays won their fifth straight by defeating the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 Monday night.
Daniel Schneemann had a two-run homer in the fifth inning and rookie Parker Messick struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings as the Guardians dropped their third in a row and fourth in five games.
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Tampa Bay Rays' Steven Matz pitches in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Guardians' Parker Messick pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann (10) is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios, left, scores behind Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios, right, is congratulated by Jonny DeLuca (21) after scoring in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Jonathan Aranda led off the eighth with a home run down the right-field line off Hunter Gaddis (0-1) and Junior Caminero singled. Pinch-runner Richie Palacios stole second and scored on Vilade's hit up the middle.
Vilade also had an RBI single in the sixth inning and is 11 for 20 in his last 10 games after starting the year hitless in his first six at-bats.
Tampa Bay's Steven Matz (4-1) allowed two runs and four hits in a season-high seven innings.
David Fry got aboard with a walk when when his third strike on a full count was overturned by the Automated Ball-Strike system. Schneemann drove an elevated first-pitch slider into the left-center bleachers for a 2-0 lead.
The Guardians had runners on second and third with one out after pinch-hitter Kyle Manzardo's single and Chase DeLauter's double, but Bryan Baker struck out pinch-hitter George Valera and Schneemann for his seventh save.
Messick struck out six his first time through the order. The left-hander allowed only two hits through five innings, but Yandy Díaz led off the sixth with a walk, advanced on Aranda's grounder and scored on Vilade's hit.
Tampa Bay sends RHP Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.10 ERA) to the mound against Cleveland RHP Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45 ERA) in Tuesday night's middle game of the series.
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Tampa Bay Rays' Steven Matz pitches in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Guardians' Parker Messick pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann (10) is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios, left, scores behind Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios, right, is congratulated by Jonny DeLuca (21) after scoring in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The United States plays its final World Cup group-stage match having already won Group D, with Christian Pulisic hoping to return against winless Turkey. The other Group D match pits Paraguay against Australia. Meanwhile, Ecuador faced Germany and Curaçao met Ivory Coast in Group E, while the Netherlands faced Tunisia and Japan took on Sweden in wide-open Group F.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Curaçao's Sontje Hansen (12) and Curaçao's Arjany Martha (15) react after the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ecuador's Moises Caicedo, right, celebrates at the end of the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana (1) makes a save in front of Curaçao's Livano Comenencia (8) and Ivory Coast's Christopher Operi (13) during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Curaçao's Sherel Floranus (5) tackles Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo (15) during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ecuador's Kevin Rodriguez, left, and Germany's Malick Thiaw battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata (19) celebrates his go-ahead goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata (19) celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Germany during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata, center right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Germany during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata (19) celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Germany during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ivory Coast soccer fans ahead the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Ivory Coast's Nicolas Pepe (19) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ivory Coast's Nicolas Pepe (19) scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ivory Coast's Nicolas Pepe (19) receives the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Curacao fans cheer before the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana (1) saves during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ecuador's Nilson Angulo (20) celebrates his goal with John Yeboah (9)during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Ecuador's Nilson Angulo (20) maneuvers to score against Germany's Aleksandar Pavlovic (5) during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Fans of Germany cheer during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Germany's Aleksandar Pavlovic (5), top left, and Ecuador's Pedro Vite battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Ecuador's Nilson Angulo celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Fans cheer prior to the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (1) is scored on by Ecuador's Nilson Angulo (20) during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Germany's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Ecuador during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
