Rasmussen Shines as the Rays Beat the Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 to Take a 3-2 ALCS Lead
Rasmussen struck out six and Tampa Bay’s bullpen held Cleveland to five hits as the Rays moved within one win of the World Series.
- On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series. Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings for his second postseason win.
- Seeking their first ALCS pennant since 2020, Tampa Bay holds a statistical advantage; since 1985, road teams winning Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead have won the series four of five times.
- Jonathan Aranda and Liam Hicks drove in runs during the first three innings to build an early lead. Steven Kwan prevented further damage with a leaping catch at the center-field wall.
- Reliever Bryan Baker converted his 35th straight save chance in the ninth to secure the victory. The Rays are now one win away from the World Series, with the potential clincher scheduled for Monday at Tropicana Field.
- Should the series extend, Game 7 would be Tuesday, with the World Series beginning Friday in Milwaukee. Cleveland has not won an ALCS after trailing 3-2, facing a difficult historical path.
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71 Articles
Rays one win from World Series return after downing Guardians
A dazzling pitching performance from starter Drew Rasmussen laid the foundation for another deserved victory for the Rays, who had leveled the best-of-seven American League Championhip Series on Saturday. Rasmussen restricted the Guardians to one run and four hits through seven innings with six strikeouts. Rays catcher Liam Hicks paid tribute to Rasmussen's gem after the win. "He's an ace, it's as simple as that," Hicks said. "He rises to the o…
"You Fu*** S**": Rays’ 25YO Star Gets an Unfiltered Taste of Cleveland as Hot Mic Catches Fans' True Feelings
Chandler Simpson, the 25-year-old Tampa Bay Rays outfielder, swiped an AL-best 46 bags and hit .306 without a single homer in 2026. One running grab in the American League Championship Series showed how badly Cleveland wants him gone. He proved it in Game 5 at Progressive Field, when Simpson pursued a slicing foul pop-up near […]
Led by a stellar pitching performance from Drew Rasmussen, the Tampa Bay Rays are just one win away from advancing to the World Series. On the 19th (KST), Tampa Bay defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 of the 2026 MLB American League Championship Series (ALCS) held at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Tampa Bay Rays will look Monday for their third American League championship and the first since 2020
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