CLEVELAND — The Guardians are one loss away from being eliminated from the MLB playoffs.
In Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, the Guardians lost 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Progressive Field. With the defeat, the Guardians trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is set for 8:08 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
MLB playoffs: Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays highlights, analysis from Game 5 of the ALCS
Here are Guardians-Rays ALCS Game 5 instant reactions from Beacon Journal writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich:
Guardians-Rays ALCS Game 5. Ryan Lewis' instant reaction
Some of the biggest concerns for the Guardians entering this series have become problems in Games 4 and 5. In Game 4, it was a top three in the Rays lineup who had previously been contained finally breaking out together. In Game 5, it was the Guardians' lack of offense and inability to hit Drew Rasmussen. Cleveland's offensive issues put their backs against the wall in the AL Division Series, and now the same thing has happened in the ALCS. Cleveland also has a number of question marks as to how to attack Game 6 from a pitching perspective. So what was the takeaway of Game 5? It's that suddenly, the Guardians have a laundry list of questions, and they only have the flight to Tampa Bay to figure them out.
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Guardians vs. Rays Game 5 of ALCS. Nate Ulrich's instant reaction
The starting pitching matchup between All-Stars Parker Messick (Guardians) and Drew Rasmussen (Rays) proved to be a huge advantage for Tampa Bay. Messick surrendered two runs, five hits and two walks and struck out three in just two innings of work. Messick threw 57 pitches, 34 for strikes. Rasmussen gave up one run, four hits, one walk and struck out six in seven innings. He threw 95 pitches, 69 for strikes. The Guardians offense experienced ill-timed flashbacks to Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS, when it produced a combined seven hits and three runs. Cleveland finished Game 5 of the ALCS with one run and five hits.
Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians vs Tampa Bay Rays ALCS Game 5 instant reactions