Rasmussen Offers Seven Strong Innings as Rays Beat Guardians, Take 3-2 ALCS Lead

Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday at Progressive Field in Cleveland, shifting inside one win of the World Series.

Rasmussen allowed 4 hits, walked one and struck out six over 95 pitches to earn his second postseason win. He carried a shutout into the sixth inning and retired 9 consecutive batters after permitting a two-out single to Chase DeLauter within the first.

The right-hander confronted a seventh-inning take a look at after Nathaniel Lowe opened the body with a single. Rasmussen retired Travis Bazzana on a pop-up earlier than getting Patrick Bailey to floor right into a double play, ending the menace and finishing seven innings with Tampa Bay forward 3-1.

The efficiency marked a turnaround from Rasmussen’s first ALCS begin, when he surrendered a game-tying house run to Bailey within the seventh inning of Game 1. Tampa Bay’s bullpen took over Sunday, with Cam Booser and Tyler Wells working the eighth earlier than Bryan Baker pitched the ninth for his fifth save of the postseason.

Tampa Bay scored as soon as in every of the primary three innings. Yandy Díaz opened the sport with a double and later scored on Jonny DeLuca’s bases-loaded stroll in opposition to Cleveland starter Parker Messick. The Rays added to their lead within the second when Jonathan Aranda singled house Ben Williamson.

Messick’s outing ended after two innings, throughout which he allowed two runs on 5 hits and two walks whereas putting out three. Tim Herrin changed him within the third, however the Rays added one other run when Chandler Simpson doubled, stole third and scored on Liam Hicks’ single to heart subject.

Díaz completed 3-for-5 with a double, whereas Aranda and Hicks collected two hits apiece. Tampa Bay totaled 12 hits and scored in every of the primary three innings to ascertain the lead Rasmussen protected.

Cleveland broke by way of within the seventh. Steven Kwan and José Ramírez singled to place runners on the corners, and DeLauter grounded an RBI single between first and second to make it 3-1. The Guardians couldn’t shut the hole, ending with 5 hits.

The victory gave Tampa Bay consecutive street wins after the Rays fell behind 2-1 within the collection. They return to Tropicana Field for Game 6 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, with an opportunity to clinch their third American League pennant. If Cleveland forces a seventh recreation, it will likely be performed Tuesday in St. Petersburg.

The National League champion Milwaukee Brewers await the ALCS winner within the World Series.