CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 at Progressive Field in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. On Sunday, Tampa Bay took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and moved within one win of the World Series. The Rays improved to 104-66, while the Guardians fell to 90-82. Attendance was 36,303, and the game took 2 hours, 50 minutes. Tampa Bay, the visiting team, finished with 12 hits, and Cleveland had five.

Tampa Bay scored once in each of the first three innings and never trailed. In the first, Yandy Díaz doubled to center, Jonathan Aranda flew out, Ryan Vilade walked and Junior Caminero struck out before Chandler Simpson singled to load the bases. Jonny DeLuca then walked to force in Díaz. In the second, Ben Williamson singled, Taylor Walls popped out and Díaz singled before Aranda singled to score Williamson. In the third, Simpson doubled and Liam Hicks singled to score Simpson. Cleveland’s run came when Steven Kwan singled, José Ramírez singled and Chase DeLauter grounded out to first, scoring Kwan. The Rays grounded into double plays in the third and sixth, with Williamson the batter both times. Cleveland also turned a double play in the seventh on Patrick Bailey’s grounder. Tampa Bay had Taylor Walls thrown out at home in the fourth when Aranda singled to left.

Drew Rasmussen controlled the game for Tampa Bay. The right-hander allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, walking one and striking out six. Rasmussen improved to 18-5 and delivered a second strong postseason start. He had lost earlier in the series against Cleveland after allowing two earned runs over six innings with seven strikeouts, but he reversed that result. He became the first pitcher in Rays history with multiple postseason starts of at least seven innings while allowing one run or fewer. The last pitcher to accomplish that twice before the World Series was Logan Webb of the Giants in 2021. Rasmussen was backed by sharp defense up the middle from shortstop Taylor Walls and second baseman Ben Williamson, who helped turn Cleveland’s chances into quick outs. Bryan Baker worked the ninth for his 46th save, and Tyler Wells and Cam Booser bridged the gap with scoreless relief.

Parker Messick took the loss for Cleveland and dropped to 12-12. The Guardians’ bullpen kept the game close after the early damage. Shawn Armstrong pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed one hit, Cade Smith worked 1 1/3 innings with one hit and one strikeout, Erik Sabrowski threw 1 2/3 innings with one hit and two strikeouts, and Hunter Gaddis added 1 2/3 innings with one hit and one walk. Together they held Tampa Bay scoreless over six innings. Tampa Bay’s pitchers combined for 19 strikes, 49 balls and 19 balls in play, while Cleveland’s staff had 15 strikes, 36 balls and 15 balls in play. Wells recorded one out with a strikeout, Booser allowed one hit over two-thirds of an inning and Baker finished with one walk and no hits.

Chandler Simpson went 2-for-3 for the Rays, and Liam Hicks was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Yandy Díaz had three hits, and Jonathan Aranda drove in a run. Cleveland managed five hits and was hurt by a double play in the seventh after Nathaniel Lowe singled to open the inning. The Guardians also got a leadoff walk from Chase DeLauter in the ninth, but Tampa Bay turned Jo Adell’s grounder into a force out and then retired Nathaniel Lowe and Travis Bazzana to end the game. Baker’s save closed out a game that stayed within reach because Cleveland’s bullpen cooled Tampa Bay after the third. Tampa Bay had chances to add insurance but stranded runners in the late innings. In the eighth, Junior Caminero singled, Chandler Simpson moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt and Jonny DeLuca flied out before Liam Hicks walked and Ben Williamson flied out. In the ninth, Taylor Walls struck out before Díaz singled, but Jonathan Aranda and Victor Mesa Jr. flied out.

The Rays have been the best team in the American League since the midway point of the season, and they spent the weekend in Cleveland reinforcing that status. Tampa Bay won the previous game 7-3 and then took the series lead with a tighter, cleaner performance. Cleveland has reason to believe a comeback is possible: the Guardians erased a 0-2 deficit against the White Sox in the ALDS and won three straight to advance. The series now shifts to Tropicana Field for Game 6, where Tampa Bay will try to close out the series and Cleveland will try to force a deciding game. Freddy Peralta could make the start after a brief relief appearance in Game 4, when he threw nine pitches. Peralta was strong in his Game 2 start at Tropicana Field, throwing six shutout innings with six strikeouts and reaching 99.4 mph with his fastball. If the Rays advance, it would guarantee a first-time champion since neither the Rays nor the Brewers have won a World Series since their organizations entered the league.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tampa Bay Rays 8, Cleveland Guardians 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tampa Bay with a 52.9 percent probability to win. Cleveland had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 4 went over the over/under line of 6.5.