- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 of the ALCS on Sunday, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven set.
Drew Rasmussen delivered seven strong innings for Tampa Bay, allowing one earned run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The right-hander improved to 2-0 this postseason and has compiled a 1.29 ERA with 23 strikeouts and three walks across three starts. Rasmussen retired nine consecutive batters after yielding a two-out single to Chase DeLauter in the opening frame.
The Rays jumped ahead early, scoring in each of the first three innings. Yandy Díaz collected three hits and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Jonny DeLuca in the first. Jonathan Aranda added an RBI single in the second, and Liam Hicks drove in another run in the third. Cleveland starter Parker Messick lasted just two innings, the shortest outing of his career.
Bryan Baker converted his 35th consecutive save and fifth of the postseason. Game 6 is scheduled for Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, with Freddy Peralta set to start for Tampa Bay. Cleveland has not announced a starter after manager Stephen Vogt ruled out Gavin Williams.
"It gets kind of boring out there because it's incredible the stuff he has," DeLuca said of Rasmussen.
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).