Rays Beat the Guardians 3-1 in ALCS Game 5 and Move One Win From the World Series

The first run came on a bases-loaded walk in the first inning. Singles in the second and third, including one from Jonathan Aranda and another from Liam Hicks, added the rest. Cleveland starter Parker Messick lasted only two innings, giving up two runs on five hits, and the Guardians needed six pitchers to cover the game.

What happened with the Guardians' offence?

Very little, in the end. Cleveland scored once, with Chase DeLauter driving in the run, and stranded runners in the middle innings. Rasmussen got Jo Adell to pop out to end one threat, per ESPN, and Tyler Wells struck out Jose Ramirez with a runner on in the eighth.

Steven Kwan gave the home crowd something to cheer. He threw out Taylor Walls trying to score in the fourth and made a leaping catch at the centre-field wall in the eighth to rob Victor Mesa Jr. of a run, according to the AP. Bryan Baker finished it for his fifth save of the postseason, the AP said, and Travis Bazzana grounded out to end the game.

What is the state of the series?

Tampa Bay needs one win from the last two games, and both would be at Tropicana Field if needed. Game 6 is Monday night, with Game 7 on Tuesday. The AP noted that Cleveland has never won an ALCS after trailing 3-2, and Guardians fans will remember that this team already came back from a 2-0 deficit against the White Sox in the Division Series.

Yandy Diaz, translated from Spanish by ESPN, was confident: "And I think this ends tomorrow." A Rays win would send them to a World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Dodgers, and it would be only the third pennant in franchise history. Cleveland, still chasing its first title since 1948, has to win twice in Tampa Bay to keep its season alive.