Rays beat Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 to take 3-2 ALCS lead

CLEVELAND — The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Sunday at Progressive Field in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.




Tampa Bay now leads the series 3-2, after the teams came into Sunday tied 2-2.




The Rays scored once in each of the first three innings, and that was all of their scoring in the game.




In the top of the first, Jonny DeLuca walked with the bases loaded and Yandy Díaz scored to put Tampa Bay ahead 1-0.




In the top of the second, Jonathan Aranda singled to left field and Ben Williamson scored, making it 2-0.




In the top of the third, Liam Hicks singled to centre field and Chandler Simpson scored for a 3-0 lead.




Cleveland starter Parker Messick took the loss, falling to 0-3. He allowed two runs on five hits in two innings. Tim Herrin followed and allowed one run on three hits in one inning.




The Guardians' only run came in the bottom of the sixth. Steven Kwan scored when Chase DeLauter grounded out to first base, cutting the lead to 3-1.




Drew Rasmussen earned the win for Tampa Bay, improving to 2-0. He pitched seven innings and allowed one run on four hits, with one walk and six strikeouts.




Cam Booser and Tyler Wells recorded holds in the eighth inning. Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one walk, to earn his fifth save.




Díaz led Tampa Bay at the plate, going 3-for-5 and scoring a run. Aranda had two hits and one run batted in, Simpson had two hits and scored a run, and Hicks had two hits and one run batted in.




Kwan led Cleveland with two hits in four at-bats and scored the Guardians' run. DeLauter, Ramírez and Nathaniel Lowe had one hit each, as Cleveland finished with five hits.




After Herrin, Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith held Tampa Bay scoreless over six innings, but Cleveland did not add a run.




Game 6 is scheduled for Monday, October 19 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, with the Guardians visiting the Rays. First pitch is set for 6:08 p.m. MT as the Rays look to punch their ticket to the World Series.




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