'Fastball Freddy' more fitting than ever as Peralta tops 99 in scoreless start

ST. PETERSBURG -- Freddy Peralta is called Fastball Freddy for a reason, and not just because the alliteration makes it sound cool.

That nickname was never more appropriate than in the Rays’ 3-1 win over the Guardians on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, which tied the American League Championship Series at 1-1.

The Rays right-hander fired six scoreless innings against Cleveland -- the longest postseason outing of his career -- and relied on his heater the whole way through. Of his 99 pitches -- his most as a member of the Rays -- 71 were four-seam fastballs. That included a 99.4 mph four-seamer that Jo Adell fouled off in the fifth inning, the fastest pitch of Peralta’s nine-year MLB career.

Peralta hit at least 97 mph on the radar gun a career-best 20 times in his last start, a victory over the Yankees in AL Division Series Game 2. Well, he was even more amped up in his first ALCS performance as he reached 97 mph 29 times. That included three four-seamers at 99.0 mph or faster, something he had done only five times previously in his career entering Tuesday.

And the 71.7% usage rate on his four-seamer in this crucial start? That’s Peralta's highest rate on that pitch in any start since June 11, 2019.

After he got Adell to foul off the fastest pitch of his career, Peralta came back with a 99.0 mph pitch that resulted in a lineout to center field that stranded two runners.

And the 71.7% usage rate on his four-seamer in this crucial start? That’s Peralta's highest rate on that pitch in any start since June 11, 2019.

After he got Adell to foul off the fastest pitch of his career, Peralta came back with a 99.0 mph pitch that resulted in a lineout to center field that stranded two runners.

Peralta then came back out for the sixth inning and retired the Guardians in order. His start concluded with a strikeout of Petey Halpin, Peralta’s sixth of the game, on a changeup in the zone. Peralta let out a scream as he hopped off the mound and as the Tropicana Field crowd serenaded the team’s key Trade Deadline acquisition with chants of “Freddy! Freddy!”

The Rays scored three runs in the fourth inning – all unearned thanks to a two-out error from Guardians third baseman José Ramírez -- to put Peralta in line to pick up just the second postseason win of his career.