Rays beat Guardians and are one win away from the World Series

The Tampa Bay Rays moved within one win of returning to the World Series on Sunday, after defeating the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, which they now lead 3-2.

A dazzling pitching performance by starter Drew Rasmussen set the stage for another well-deserved victory for the Rays, who had tied the series at 2-2 on Saturday.

Rasmussen held the Guardians to one run and four hits over seven innings, striking out six.

Rays catcher Liam Hicks paid tribute to Rasmussen's gem after the win: "He's an ace—it's that simple."

Rasmussen decisive

"He rises to the occasion and no situation is too big for him. I don't think there's anyone we'd rather have on the mound," he added.

The Rays capitalized on a series of early opportunities to take a lead that proved decisive.

Tampa Bay's bats gave Guardians starter Parker Messick trouble in the first inning, with Cuban Yandy Díaz sparking the rally with a leadoff double.

Messick soon found himself in a jam with the bases loaded, which led to Jonny DeLuca of the Rays drawing a walk that drove in a run and gave Tampa Bay an early 1-0 lead.

The Rays doubled their lead in the second inning when Jonathan Aranda drove in a run for Ben Williamson.

Messick was quickly pulled from the mound after 57 pitches, leaving Cleveland to improvise a bullpen game.

However, Tampa Bay continued to make the most of its scoring opportunities, and Liam Hicks singled off Guardians reliever Tim Herrin in the top of the third to make it 3-0.

With Rasmussen in complete control, the Guardians had to wait until the sixth inning to get on the board, when outfielder Steven Kwan scored on a ground ball by Chase DeLauter to first base.

The Guardians fueled hopes of a comeback in the ninth when Rays closer Bryan Baker walked the leadoff batter. But Baker held strong to record his 35th consecutive save and secure the Rays' victory.

Tampa Bay—one of five Major League Baseball teams that has never won the World Series—now needs one more win to secure its third appearance in the Fall Classic, after losing in 2008 and 2020.

Game 6 will be played Monday at Tropicana Field, the Rays' home in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"There's no other place we'd rather play a do-or-die game than at home," said Rays catcher Hicks.

Already locked into the World Series, the Milwaukee Brewers await—they dethroned the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday by completing a 4-0 sweep in the National League.