John Romano: Rays throw back-to-back shutouts to finish a sweep of the Guardians

John Romano, Tampa Bay Times on Jul 26, 2026

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — Yes, the Tampa Bay Rays are playing small ball as well as any team in recent years.

Yes, Yandy Diaz is contending for another batting crown and Junior Caminero is doing Junior Caminero things.

But in case anyone has forgotten, this franchise is still built around starting pitching.

Just ask the Cleveland Guardians.

The Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Guardians with 1-0 victory in front of an announced crowd of 20,562 on Sunday.

Drew Rasmussen threw seven innings of one-hit shutout ball for his ninth win of the season, and the Tampa Bay bullpen finished off Cleveland with Bryan Baker picking up his 28th save.

With Shane McClanahan and Nick Martinez turning in similar performances on Friday and Saturday, Rays starting pitchers held the Guardians to one run and seven hits over 18 innings of work in the series.

Plant City product Parker Messick, fresh off his first All-Star appearance, was nearly as impressive as Rasmussen on Sunday. Messick pitched into the eighth inning, and the only run he allowed was scratched together without a single hard-hit ball.

Chandler Simpson led off the fifth with a ground-ball single past third baseman Jose Ramirez, who was playing on the grass to guard against a bunt. Simpson went to second base on a wild pitch, and Ben Williamson moved him to third with an opposite-field groundout to second base.

Cedric Mullins then drove in Simpson with his ninth bunt hit of the season.

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