The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 5, extending their two-game winning streak and taking a 3-2 ALCS lead.
Sunday night, Tampa Bay delivered a masterclass in pitching and hitting. Drew Rasmussen earned the win, throwing 95 pitches and allowing four hits, one run, and one walk while striking out six batters in seven innings.
In relief, Bryan Baker notched his 35th consecutive save and fifth of the postseason, pushing his 2025 postseason to a stunning fifth win. Together, Rasmussen and Baker limited the Guardians to six hits and five shutout innings.
Meanwhile, the Rays did their damage early. Yandy Diaz, the Rays DH, scored in the 1st inning. Then, first baseman Jonathan Aranda drove in Ben Williamson with an RBI single in the 2nd, and Chandler Simpson chipped in with a double in the third, scoring on an RBI single by Liam Hicks.
Parker Messick pitched reasonably well for the Guardians, tossing 57 pitches in five innings, and allowing only five hits. But Cleveland’s offense couldn’t match Tampa Bay’s offense, with the Rays getting 12 hits to Cleveland’s five.
The Rays return to Tropicana Field today to close out the series in Game 6 (8 PM Eastern, on TBS and truTV), with Game 7, if necessary, scheduled for Tuesday evening at the same time and on the same channels.
