Matz bounces back: Rays 3, Guardians 2

{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/matz-bounces-back-rays-3-005816161.html","headline":"Matz bounces back: Rays 3, Guardians 2","datePublished":"2026-04-28T00:58:16.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-28T00:58:16.000Z","keywords":["Steven Matz","Tampa Bay Rays","Cleveland Guardians","The Rays","Ryan Vilade","CLEVELAND, OH","fifth inning","Daniel Schneemann","Richie Palacios","Bryan Baker","David Fry","Jonathan Aranda","Ben Williamson","Yandy Diaz","Junior Caminero","Ian Seymour","Jose Ramirez","Jake Fraley"],"description":"The Rays won a well-pitched, sharp defense nail biter tonight in Cleveland, with Steven Matz (seven innings pitched) and Ryan Vilade (three hits, two RBI...","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Yahoo Sports","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://s.yimg.com/cv/apiv2/default/icons/favicon_y112_112.png","width":112,"height":112},"url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Elizabeth Strom","url":"","jobTitle":""},"creator":{"@type":"Person","name":"Elizabeth Strom","url":"","jobTitle":""},"provider":{"@type":"Organization","name":"SB Nation","url":"https://www.sbnation.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":494,"height":100,"url":"https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-03/9b02bb90-059c-11f0-bfff-8a21e79a5ff9"}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/93bqSKj2.4MvPh3oLbkBxw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xNjAwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/3ab9d1d390478763514e9d77e6445ca2","height":800,"width":1200},"thumbnailUrl":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/93bqSKj2.4MvPh3oLbkBxw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xNjAwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/3ab9d1d390478763514e9d77e6445ca2"}Story byMatz bounces back: Rays 3, Guardians 2CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 27: Steven Matz #32 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Monday, April 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Sean Finucane/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty ImagesElizabeth StromTue, April 28, 2026 at 12:58 AM UTC·3 min readThe Rays won a well-pitched, sharp defense nail biter tonight in Cleveland, with Steven Matz (seven innings pitched) and Ryan Vilade (three hits, two RBI) leading the way.If you like quick moving pitching duels, then the first four and a half innings of this game would be your idea of a good time.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_63iudcaanpfiv65bH1_ { display: none; } @media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) { #_R_63iudcaanpfiv65bH1_ { display: flex; } iframe { max-width: 100vw; } }The Rays had their work cut out for them, facing Plant City’s own Parker Messnick, a 25-year old lefty who has been phenomenal over his short career.Steven Matz, pitching for the Rays, came off a terrible start against the Reds but tonight he had overcome whatever had caused him to give up four walks and three homers in just three innings (or maybe his problem last time was simply having to face the 21st century iteration of the Big Red machine).He scattered two hits until the fifth inning, when he gave up a two-run homer to Daniel Schneemann (fun fact, his last name translates to “snow man.”) You know the baseball truism, “it’s not the home runs, it’s the walks before the home runs?” Tonight that was truly the case. Just before Snow Man’s homer, David…

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