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CLEVELAND (AP) -- In a season where Cleveland rookies helped propel to the Guardians to their third straight AL Central title, it was the team’s emotional spark plug that powered the Guardians to a pivotal victory in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series.
Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth inning and followed with a majestic bat flip as the Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 Thursday for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
"It's the second time he's kind of picked us up in a big spot this year. And a really fun moment for him, great swing," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said.
Halpin watched the ball clear the wall in right-center and then launched his bat over his head and into the sky before rounding the bases. The bat might have gone higher than the 25-degree launch angle on his homer.
"I definitely threw it high. I think just the moment and that being for sure the biggest moment of my career, just the energy and the excitement, just kind of let it go," Halpin said.
The home run and the bat flip energized Cleveland’s dugout and the 30,101 fans in attendance at Progressive Field. Even though the game wasn’t sold out, it was a strong crowd after the start time was moved up five hours on Wednesday due to the threat of rain.
"That was a nasty one. Didn't even move either. I feel like he knew that the wind was blowing in and it still got out,” outfielder Steven Kwan said. “So the bat flip that he did was just ignorant, but in a good way. That was awesome."