Tampa Bay nears World Series return
DREW Rasmussen delivers a scorching performance to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series of the MLB playoffs.
Photo courtesy of Nick Cammett/Agence France-Presse
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Tampa Bay Rays moved 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 Championship 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.