The Tampa Bay Rays moved to within one win of a return to the World Series on Sunday after defeating the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 to edge into a crucial 3-2 lead in their MLB playoff series.
A dazzling pitching performance from starter Drew Rasmussen laid the foundation for another deserved victory for the Rays, who had leveled the best-of-seven American League Championhip Series on Saturday.
Rasmussen restricted the Guardians to one run and four hits through seven innings with six strikeouts.
Rays catcher Liam Hicks paid tribute to Rasmussen's gem after the win.
"He's an ace, it's as simple as that," Hicks said.
"He rises to the occasion and no moment is ever too big for him. I don't think there's anyone we'd rather have on the mound.
"He's such a hard worker. He has a plan and then he just executes."
The Rays meanwhile pounced on a string of early opportunities to edge into a lead that proved decisive.
Tampa Bay's bats caused problems for Guardians starter Parker Messick in the first inning, with Yandy Diaz getting the ball rolling with a leadoff double.
Messick soon found himself in a bases loaded jam and walked Jonny DeLuca to surrender a run that gave Tampa Bay an early 1-0 lead.
The Rays doubled their advantage in the second inning when Jonathan Aranda drove in a run for Ben Williamson.
Messick was promptly pulled from the mound after 57 pitches to leave Cleveland improvising a bullpen game.
Tampa Bay continued to make the most of the scoring chances that came their way, with Hicks singling 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, outfielder Steven Kwan coming home on Chase DeLauter's ground out to first base.
The Guardians raised hopes of a rally in the ninth, when Rays closer Bryan Baker gave up a leadoff walk to start the inning.
But Baker coolly held firm to claim his 35th consecutive save and a Rays win.
Tampa Bay -- one of only five Major League Baseball teams never to win a World Series title -- now need only one more win to book their third appearance at the Fall Classic after losing in 2008 and 2020.
Game six of the series takes place at Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Monday.
"There's no place we'd rather be playing in a must-win game than at home," Hicks said. "So it's huge."
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