Drew Rasmussen Pitches Rays to 3-2 ALCS Lead

Drew Rasmussen carried a shutout into the sixth inning and worked seven strong frames as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday, October 18, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Rasmussen allowed one run on four hits, struck out six and walked one at Progressive Field. The right-hander improved to 2-0 this postseason and lowered his ERA across three playoff starts to 1.29, putting Tampa Bay one victory from its third American League pennant.

Rays build an early lead for Rasmussen

Tampa Bay scored in each of the first three innings. Yandy Díaz opened the game with a single and eventually scored when Parker Messick walked Jonny DeLuca with the bases loaded.

Ben Williamson led off the second with another single before Jonathan Aranda drove him home. Chandler Simpson then started the third with a hit and scored on Liam Hicks’ RBI single against reliever Tim Herrin, extending the lead to 3-0.

Messick lasted only two innings, the shortest start of his major-league career. The Cleveland left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while throwing 57 pitches.

Rasmussen controls Cleveland’s lineup

Cleveland managed only one hit through the first five innings. Steven Kwan singled to begin the sixth and later scored on Chase DeLauter’s groundout, but Rasmussen prevented the Guardians from cutting further into the deficit.

Cam Booser and Tyler Wells combined to cover the eighth before Bryan Baker handled the ninth for his fifth save in five postseason opportunities. Baker walked DeLauter to bring the potential tying run to the plate, then retired Jo Adell, Nathaniel Lowe and Travis Bazzana to finish the combined five-hitter.

Díaz finished with three hits and a run for Tampa Bay, while Simpson, Aranda and Hicks recorded two hits apiece. Kwan had two of Cleveland’s five hits and took an extra-base hit away from Victor Mesa Jr. with a leaping catch at the wall in the ninth.

ALCS returns to Tampa Bay

The Rays will host Game 6 at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 19, with a chance to secure their first World Series appearance since 2020. A deciding Game 7, if required, would also be played in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.

The Milwaukee Brewers, who won the National League pennant, await the ALCS winner in the World Series.