CLEVELAND -- His teammates weren't sure what was more impressive: the two-run home run Cleveland Guardians rookie center fielder Petey Halpin hit to give his team the lead, or the ensuing bat flip, which had its own impressive launch angle.
Halpin chucked his lumber high into the sky as he began his jog around the bases in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. The homer erased a one-run deficit and produced the final runs in the 3-2 win as the Guardians took a 2-1 series lead.
"That was a nasty one," teammate Steven Kwan said of Halpin's homer. "He knew the wind was blowing in and still got it. The bat flip that he did was ignorant -- but in a good way."
In other words, Kwan would not have tried it himself, considering the ball barely cleared the right-center-field wall, but it is part and parcel of Halpin's personality. He doesn't act like the rookie. He's in the fray in the Guardians' clubhouse.
"He's not afraid of anything," Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams, who started Thursday, said. "He's a funny guy, too. He'll crack a joke with you; it doesn't matter who you are."
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe added: "He's feisty. He's an entertainer. He has a couple great bust bits."
Halpin also has a knack for the dramatic. Nearly one month ago, he hit a blast that helped the Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox as the two teams battled for the AL Central title, which Cleveland won by one game.
On Thursday, Halpin hit a sinker from Rays starter Griffin Jax out to right-center field, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. It was the fifth pitch of the at-bat. The four previous were all different types of pitches. Then, he got his second sinker and didn't miss it.
"I was on fastball," Halpin said. "I was ... trying to get the head [of the bat] out, and it all worked out. He left it over the plate a little bit, and I was able to make a good swing."
Said Jax: "He does a good job handling some off-speed, so I felt like that was the right pitch, just the wrong location right there."
The home run turned the tide for the Guardians, who once again got stellar pitching from Williams and their bullpen. It's a recurring theme this postseason as their pitchers continue to overcome fatigue while producing zeros on the scoreboard. Save for a two-run triple by Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson, offense was at a minimum for the visitors.
"I feel good," Williams said after striking out nine over five innings. "I definitely noticed it a little bit that I've done something that I never did last week."
Williams is referring to pitching in relief in Game 4 of the division series against the White Sox, then starting -- and dominating -- in Game 5. He's not the only one being stretched to the limits. Closer Cade Smith was asked to get four outs in Game 3, but out No.1 was no easy task. With the tying run on third in the eighth inning, Rays leadoff man Yandy Diaz saw 10 pitches before Smith struck him out. After a 1-2-3 ninth, the Guardians had their win.
"Yandy Díaz, what an unbelievable at-bat and battle that was," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "But for [Smith] to come back out and get three quick outs, that's what Cade does. He's efficient, and he's ready to take the ball."
Pitching has been expectedly consistent for Cleveland in the playoffs while the offense is trending toward that old sports cliché: a different hero every night.
Jose Ramirez has been front and center in that department this postseason but so have Chase DeLauter, Lowe and Jo Adell. The latter won an ABS challenge and later walked in that plate appearance. Then he scored the game's first run on Lowe's double in the second.
But this day belonged to Halpin, who experienced the biggest moment of his young career, propelling his team to a win and series lead -- bat flip and all.
"That's the second or third massive home run he's had for us this year," second baseman Travis Bazzana said. "I was fired up for the bat flip."
"I just saw the replay and saw how little it went out by," Vogt said. "I'm glad it cleared the wall."
Reliever Erik Sabrowski was asked about his thoughts on the flip from his vantage point in the bullpen.
"Sweet," he deadpanned. "And we better win."
The Guardians did just that, taking back control and momentum of the series, which is being threatened by bad weather. Thursday's game time was moved up, while Friday's game could also be changed. At least until the next game starts -- whenever that is -- Guardians fans have a pair of highlights they can watch on a loop: the homer and the flip.
"Definitely threw it high," Halpin said. "I think just that being for sure the biggest moment of my career, just the energy and the excitement, just kind of let it go."
