Rasmussen Dominates as Rays Take 3-2 ALCS Lead Over Guardians

Drew Rasmussen surrendered one run across seven innings to lead Tampa Bay to a 3-1 win against Cleveland on Sunday night.

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Sunday night to take a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series. Starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen earned his second win of the postseason, allowing four hits, one walk, and one run while striking out six batters over seven innings. The 31-year-old right-hander retired nine consecutive hitters following a first-inning single and now holds a 1.29 ERA through three playoff starts.

Tampa Bay built an early lead by scoring single runs in each of the first three innings. Yandy Díaz, who finished with three hits, doubled in the first and scored on a bases-loaded walk by Parker Messick to Jonny DeLuca. In the second, Jonathan Aranda drove in Ben Williamson with a single. Liam Hicks extended the lead to 3-0 in the third inning with a curveball single that scored Chandler Simpson. Messick took the loss for Cleveland, lasting only two innings while allowing two runs on five hits and three walks.

Cleveland’s lone run came in the seventh inning when Steven Kwan and José Ramírez singled to set up a Chase DeLauter RBI grounder. Kwan recorded two of the Guardians' five hits and contributed two defensive gems, including throwing Taylor Walls out at home in the fourth and making a leaping catch at the center-field wall in the eighth.

Bryan Baker secured his 35th consecutive save chance and fifth of the postseason by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, ending the game on a Travis Bazzana groundout with Jo Adell on second base. The Rays can clinch the AL pennant on Monday at Tropicana Field. If a Game 7 is required, it will take place Tuesday, with the World Series scheduled to begin Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.