The Tampa Bay Rays are one win from their third World Series appearance. Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 3-1 on Sunday night in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, taking a 3-2 lead behind the best pitching performance of this postseason.

Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings on four hits, with six strikeouts and one walk. He retired nine straight batters after an early single and carried a shutout into the sixth. Rasmussen is 2-0 in three postseason starts with a 1.29 ERA, 23 strikeouts and three walks, and he has allowed three earned runs in 13 innings in this series.

Tampa Bay scored one run in each of the first three innings, and the leadoff hitter scored every time. Yandy Diaz came home on a bases loaded walk to Jonny DeLuca in the first. Ben Williamson scored on a Jonathan Aranda single in the second. Chandler Simpson scored on a Liam Hicks run scoring single in the third. Parker Messick lasted two innings for Cleveland, a career low 57 pitches.

Steven Kwan nearly kept Cleveland in it by himself. He had two of the Guardians' five hits, threw out Taylor Walls at the plate in the fourth and made a leaping catch at the center field wall late to take away extra bases. It was not enough. Cam Booser and Tyler Wells worked the eighth, with Wells striking out Jose Ramirez to strand a runner, and Bryan Baker closed the ninth for his fifth save of this postseason and his 35th straight converted save chance.

Cleveland has scored four runs in the last two games and now has to win twice in St. Petersburg to save its season. The Guardians have never won an ALCS when trailing 3-2.

Game 6 is Monday at 8:08 PM ET at Tropicana Field on TBS and truTV. Freddy Peralta starts for Tampa Bay, which went a league best 55-25 at home this season. The National League champion Milwaukee Brewers await the winner in the World Series, which opens Friday.

Key Facts

  • Final: Rays 3, Guardians 1 in ALCS Game 5 at Progressive Field
  • Series: Tampa Bay leads 3-2. Game 6 Monday 8:08 PM ET at Tropicana Field.
  • Rasmussen: 7 IP, 1 run, 4 hits, 6 K, 1 BB. Postseason: 2-0, 1.29 ERA, 23 K in three starts
  • Messick: 2 IP, 2 runs, 5 hits, 57 pitches, a career low
  • Close: Bryan Baker, fifth postseason save and 35th straight converted save chance

VIA Reuters, Associated Press, NBC Sports, USA Today.

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