CLEVELAND — The Tampa Bay Rays took a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) with a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday night. Drew Rasmussen pitched seven strong innings, allowing only one run while striking out six, securing his second postseason win and further solidifying his impact on the series. The Rays now aim to clinch their third AL pennant and first since 2020 in Game 6, scheduled for Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tampa Bay built its lead early, scoring single runs in each of the first three innings against two Guardians pitchers, Parker Messick and Tim Herrin. After Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter recorded a two-out single in the first inning, Rasmussen retired nine consecutive batters, limiting the Guardians’ offense effectively throughout the game. The Guardians managed to score one run in the seventh but stranded runners in the eighth and ninth innings, failing to mount a significant comeback.
Rasmussen credited improved command of his changeup—thrown 27 times with 21 strikes—as a key factor in his dominant performance. Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Rasmussen’s rhythm and pitch selection, noting the effectiveness of his fastball and changeup combination. Rasmussen is now 2-0 in the postseason with a 1.29 ERA in three starts, having struck out 23 batters while walking only three.
The Guardians, seeking their first World Series title since 1948, face a challenging task. Cleveland has yet to win an ALCS series when trailing 3-2. Manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the strength of the Rays, particularly at home, but expressed confidence in his team’s resilience. “We know this is going to be tough but if there’s a group I’m betting on to get this done, it’s our guys,” Vogt said.
Game 5 on Saturday night had featured Tampa Bay capitalizing on Cleveland’s defensive errors to even the series at 2-2. Nick Martinez, pitching five and one-third innings, earned his first postseason win as the Rays scored seven runs on 11 hits. Jonathan Aranda’s key single in the seventh inning led to two runs after right fielder DeLauter misplayed the ball. Travis Bazzana contributed his first postseason home run but also committed a fielding error in a difficult night for the Guardians’ defense.
The Rays’ offense saw contributions from the top of the order, including Yandy Díaz, Aranda, Chandler Simpson, and Junior Caminero, who combined for six hits and six RBIs in Game 4. Tampa Bay’s ability to play strong defense and maintain offensive pressure has been instrumental in their advantage in the series.
If necessary, a Game 7 will be held Tuesday at Tropicana Field. The winner of the ALCS will advance to face the National League champion Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, set to begin Friday. The Rays hold a 58-27 home record this season, including postseason games, while the Guardians look for their first AL pennant title in over seven decades.