Nick Cammett/Getty ImagesESPNMultiple AuthorsOct 18, 2026, 08:00 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsThe Tampa Bay Rays are in control of the American League Championship Series as they head home to Tropicana Field for Game 6.Playing for the chance to face Milwaukee in the World Series, they entered Sunday knotted with the Cleveland Guardians at two games apiece. But in the final game in Cleveland, the Rays got on the board first and slowly added to their lead as the night went on, securing the 3-1 win to move one victory away from the Fall Classic.We have all the game action and postgame analysis from ALCS Game 5.Key links: How final teams were built | Playoff MVP tracker | ScheduleTakeawaysTampa Bay Rays 3, Cleveland Guardians 1Tampa Bay leads series 3-2It was over when … Liam Hicks blooped an RBI single to shallow center field to give the Rays a 3-0 lead in the third inning. It was a tough left-on-left matchup for Hicks opposite Tim Herrin, and the Rays catcher managed to find grass in front of center fielder Petey Halpin with a ball that traveled all of 69.5 mph off his bat.
Chandler Simpson, who had led off the inning with a double, scored easily. The Rays squandered prime opportunities to score more runs in the early innings — they left seven runners on base through four — but it was still more than enough cushion for Tampa Bay ace Drew Rasmussen.Game 5 star: Rasmussen’s dominant postseason continued Sunday. The right-hander held Cleveland to one run on four hits over seven innings. He struck out six to one walk.
The All-Star has logged eight, six and seven innings, respectively, in his three playoff outings. He’s given up three runs across the 21 innings, good for a 1.29 ERA. Starting pitching is a strength for Tampa Bay, and it starts with Rasmussen.The stat that defined the game: 2. That’s how many innings Cleveland’s All-Star rookie starter Parker Messick pitched Sunday.
The stat less defines the game and more presents a problem for the Guardians moving forward. With the potential for four games over four days, they were counting on a lengthy outing from Messick. Instead, after using seven pitchers in a bullpen game in Game 4, they needed six pitchers to get through nine innings Sunday. Bullpens tire and become exposed with such heavy usage in October.
It’s an advantage the Rays will look to exploit to close out this series back home on Monday. — Jorge CastilloWhat it means for the rest of the series: The Rays couldn’t be in a much better position considering they trailed this series, 2-1. They’re headed home to Tropicana Field, where they had the best home record in MLB this year. They’ve got Freddy Peralta and Griffin Jax lined up on regular rest while Cleveland’s pitching is something of a muddled mess. And, best of all, the Rays have gotten their bats going after an early-series funk, although they need to cash in better with runners in scoring position. — Jeff PassanHighlights from Tampa Bay’s winRays move within one win from World SeriesFINAL: Rays 3, Guardians 1 Tampa Bay heads home one win away from the World Series.
Drew Rasmussen was brilliant over seven innings, the Rays hit and ran and bunted their way to enough offense and their defense was exceptional. A classic Rays win leading into Game 6 on Monday.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 18, 2026 A highlight-reel catch for Kwan to keep Rays’ lead to 2STEVEN KWAN CAUGHT THAT?! https://t.co/ZCEpMKMYo5— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2026 Guardians get on the board in the 6thThe Guardians are on the board in Game 5 🫡 https://t.co/KK4Gnvrehm— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2026 Bailey tags Walls out at home to save a run for ClevelandSteven Kwan doing what Steven Kwan does. #GuardsBall | #StandGuard https://t.co/hk0w2ACPPa— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 18, 2026 Simpson scores to make it 3-0Liam Hicks adds another for the Rays! https://t.co/mFs4UnkWOD— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2026 Aranda’s RBI single gives Tampa Bay 2-run leadJonathan Aranda 👉 absolute RBI machine #ForTampaBay | #postseason https://t.co/RTcHp2vSvY— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 18, 2026 Rays score first on 1st-inning bases-loaded walkThe Rays are on the board first in Game 5! https://t.co/Ru7gm1q2nC— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2026
