Drew Rasmussen handed Tampa Bay’s bullpen a 3-1 lead after seven innings, and that modest margin held. The Rays’ advantage in ALCS Game 5 began with a starter supplying enough length to make three early runs stand up.
The Rays won 3-1 at Progressive Field on Sunday and moved ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Tampa Bay needs one more victory to advance. The narrow win has put the next step within reach.
Rasmussen made the distinction feel manageable. He allowed four hits and one run, walked one and struck out six in seven innings, using 95 pitches. Cleveland’s best threat came in the sixth, when Steven Kwan singled and José Ramírez followed with another single. Chase DeLauter grounded out, bringing Kwan home, but Rasmussen then retired Jo Adell on a popout to keep the lead at two.
By leaving after the seventh, Rasmussen spared Tampa Bay from asking a parade of relievers to cover the entire back end of a close game. A two-run cushion gives a bullpen some breathing room while still making every baserunner consequential. Rasmussen also generated 10 groundouts, while Cleveland failed to hit a home run.
The game became a test of traffic management rather than a contest decided by one loud swing.
Tampa Bay had built the lead before the evening settled into its quieter middle innings. The first run began with Yandy Díaz’s double. Jonathan Aranda flied out before Ryan Vilade walked, Junior Caminero struck out, and Chandler Simpson singled to load the bases.
With two outs, Jonny DeLuca walked, bringing Díaz home. It was hardly an offensive explosion, but the Rays had made Cleveland pay for allowing the inning to continue.
The second inning followed a similar script with less suspense. Ben Williamson singled, Taylor Walls popped out, and Díaz singled to move Williamson to second. Jonathan Aranda then singled Williamson home. That gave Tampa Bay two runs without a home run, a useful reminder that postseason scoring often comes from stacking competent plate appearances rather than waiting for a single rescue swing.
The third run arrived in the third. Simpson doubled, Jonny DeLuca grounded out, and Liam Hicks singled Simpson home. The sequence included an out, but the Rays kept the inning alive long enough to cash in. That was their final run, despite collecting 12 hits overall.
There was the warning beneath the win. In the fourth, Walls reached on a bunt single and Aranda singled, but Walls was thrown out at home. In the eighth, Junior Caminero singled, Chandler Simpson sacrificed Jorge Mateo to second, and Jonny DeLuca’s flyout moved Mateo to third.
