Rays Beat Guardians 3-1 in Game 5, One Win From the World Series

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Sunday at Progressive Field to take a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series. Drew Rasmussen allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, walked one and struck out six. Tampa Bay scored once in each of the first three innings and never trailed. The Rays can reach the World Series with one more win.

Cleveland starter Parker Messick had a rough first inning. Yandy Diaz opened the game with a double, and Messick lost the strike zone from there, loading the bases before walking Jonny DeLuca to force in the run. Liam Hicks grounded out to end the inning, but Messick needed 31 pitches to get through it.

Tampa Bay added a run in the second. Ben Williamson singled, Diaz followed with a single of his own, and Jonathan Aranda drove Williamson home with a single through the left side. Messick struck out Junior Caminero to end the inning, but his day ended there. He lasted two innings, the shortest start of his career, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 57 pitches.

The third run came in the third off reliever Tim Herrin. Chandler Simpson doubled down the right field line, stole third and scored on a bloop single by Hicks into center field. Cleveland kept the game close with its defense. In the fourth, left fielder Steven Kwan threw out Taylor Walls at the plate on another Aranda single, a play that kept the score at 3-0.

Cleveland's only run came in the sixth. Kwan singled, Jose Ramirez singled him to third and extended his club record postseason on base streak to 17 games, and Chase DeLauter brought Kwan home with a groundout. Rasmussen answered by finishing the seventh, getting Patrick Bailey to ground into an inning ending double play that erased a leadoff single by Nathaniel Lowe.

Cleveland's bullpen held Tampa Bay scoreless over the final six innings, and closer Cade Smith entered in the eighth with two outs and runners at the corners to keep the deficit at two runs. It was not enough. Cam Booser opened the eighth for Tampa Bay and got two outs before Tyler Wells struck out Ramirez with a runner on first to end the inning. Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the series.

Across two starts in this series, Rasmussen has allowed three runs in 13 innings with 13 strikeouts and one walk. Tampa Bay outhit Cleveland 12 to 5 on Sunday, one night after winning Game 4 by 7-3 to even the series.

The win puts the Rays one victory from their third World Series. Tampa Bay reached the Series in 2008 and 2020 and lost both times. The Rays are one of five Major League Baseball franchises that have never won the title. The Milwaukee Brewers are already through on the National League side, and the World Series starts on Friday, October 23.

Cleveland now has to win twice on the road to save its season. The Guardians last won the World Series in 1948, the longest championship drought in the majors. Their bullpen covered seven innings on Sunday, and the short turnaround gives it no day to reset.

Game 6 is on Monday, October 19 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, with first pitch at 8 p.m. Eastern. A Tampa Bay win ends the series and sends the Rays to the World Series. A Cleveland win forces a deciding Game 7 on Tuesday at the same ballpark.