Drew Rasmussen gave Tampa Bay seven strong innings Sunday night, and the Rays carried that steady formula into a 3-1 Game 5 win over Cleveland at Progressive Field. Tampa Bay now owns a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series and will return home needing one more victory to reach the World Series.
The result
The Rays did not need a home run to take control. They have hit only two balls out of the park in the series, but their lineup put pressure on Cleveland starter Parker Messick from the opening pitch and produced a run in each of the first three innings.
Yandy Díaz opened the game with a double and eventually crossed the plate when Jonny DeLuca worked a bases-loaded walk. Jonathan Aranda made it 2-0 in the second with a one-out RBI single, ending Messick’s night after two innings. Liam Hicks followed with another one-out RBI single in the third.
It was the fourth time in franchise postseason history that Tampa Bay scored in each of the first three innings. The earlier instances came in the 2019 AL Wild Card Game in Oakland, Game 2 of the 2020 Wild Card Series against Toronto, and Game 2 of the 2020 AL Division Series against the Yankees.
“Getting that early push matters a lot, particularly in the first inning,” DeLuca said. “When hitters start rolling, it can spread through the lineup. We feel like we have something going and want to keep it moving.”
Manager Kevin Cash credited his club for putting itself into advantageous counts against Messick, whom Tampa Bay knew would be a difficult assignment. Cash also said the Rays hope more home runs arrive as the series continues, though Sunday showed they can create enough offense without them.
Rasmussen, 31, handled the rest. The right-hander allowed one run over seven innings, adding another sharp October start to a postseason that already included eight scoreless innings against the Yankees in ALDS Game 1 and more than six innings of two-run work against Cleveland in the ALCS opener.
Cam Booser recorded the first two outs in the eighth. Tyler Wells then entered with a runner aboard and struck out José Ramírez to preserve the lead, showing plenty of emotion as he left the mound.
Bryan Baker finished the ninth for his fifth save in six scoreless postseason appearances. The 31-year-old All-Star closer has allowed only one hit while finishing each of his first six playoff outings. Only Jason Motte with the 2011 Cardinals and Mark Wohlers with the 1996 Braves had previously matched that combination.
“That was Tampa Bay baseball at its best,” Wells said.
The defense backed the pitching throughout the night. Ben Williamson took a hit away from Ramírez with a diving stop at second in the fourth. In the fifth, shortstop Taylor Walls made a spinning play up the middle before throwing out Petey Halpin to end the inning. Aranda also supplied the dependable work at first base, digging out throws from around the infield.
“Taylor Walls is among the best shortstops anywhere,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “He gets to everything. If the ball is hit in his direction, it usually becomes an out.” Vogt also pointed to Williamson’s work at second base.
Rasmussen praised Aranda’s night at first, while Wells said the clean defense allows pitchers to attack hitters with confidence. The Rays have built their 98-win regular season, AL East title and Division Series sweep of New York around those kinds of complete efforts: early offense, reliable gloves and enough pitching options for the late innings.
Baker said the bullpen’s depth has given Cash and the coaching staff answers for a wide range of situations, whether a matchup calls for a left-hander, a right-hander, power threats or another section of the order.
There are no remaining off-days in the ALCS. Game 6 is scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. ET, with Game 7 set for Tuesday if Cleveland can extend the series.
