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Guardians face elimination again after Game 5 loss

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Paul Hoynes (via Cleveland.com)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker reacts to their win over the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey tags out Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls at home plate in the fourth inning. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker celebrates their win over the Cleveland Guardians. The Tampa Bay Rays outfielders celebrate their win over the Cleveland Guardians. Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. flys out to Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan on the outfield wall in the ninth inning. Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. flys out to Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan on the outfield wall in the ninth inning. Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. flys out to Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan on the outfield wall in the ninth inning. Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez catches a short pop up off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda for the out in the ninth inning. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith pitches in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians.Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan misses a pop up on a miscommunication with Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio off the bat Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in the eighth inning. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians.Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter catches a long fly ball off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca in the eighth inning. Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana fields a grounder off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Williamson to turn a double play in the sixth inning. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls slides into second base safely for a steal as Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio fields the late throw in the fourth inning. Guardians pitcher Parker Messick (77) pitches during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) grabs a grounder from Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) but the throw to first is not in time, loading the bases, during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) grabs a grounder from Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) but the throw to first is not in time, loading the bases, during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana forces out Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks on a double play in the sixth inning. Rays designated hitter Yandy Díaz (2) strolls home on a bases loaded walk to score during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis comes to the mound to talk to Guardians pitcher Parker Messick (77) in the first inning during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) pitches to Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) singles off of Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) in the first inning during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Rays second baseman Ben Williamson (15) scores as Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey (16) waits for the throw from Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey (16) comes out to the mound with pitching coach Carl Willis to talk to Guardians pitcher Parker Messick (77) in the second inning during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz is congratulated in the dugout after scoring on a bases loaded walk by Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick in the first inning. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick throws in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan catches a Depp fly ball off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. in the fourth inning. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tim Herrin throws in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson reacts to hitting a double in the thrid inning. Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey tags out Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls at home plate in the fourth inning. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls slides into second base safely for a steal as Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio fields the late throw in the fourth inning. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Erik Sabrowski throws in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey tags out Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls at home plate in the fourth inning. Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz flys out to Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan in the seventh inning. Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan is congratulated in the dugout after scoring in the sixth inning. Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter grounds Cleveland Guardians center fielder Petey Halpin catches pop up off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda in the seventh inning. Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter grounds out in the Tampa Bay Rays infield to advance Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan to third base in the sixth inning. Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan catches a fly ball off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Williamson in the eighth inning. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cam Booser throws in the eight inning against the Cleveland Guardians.Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. catches a pop up off the bat of Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez in the eight inning. Cleveland Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell (L), Jaylon Tyson (C) watch the Cleveland Guardians battle the Tampa Bay Rays in game 5 of the ALCS. Former Cleveland Guardians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo threw out the ceremonial first pitch before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez has some fun with the mascot Slider before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.Guardians third baseman José Ramírez (11) tries to chase down a foul ball at the net, but didn’t make the catch during MLB action in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in Progressive Field on Sunday, October 18, 2026.Former Cleveland Guardians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo threw out the ceremonial first pitch before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.Cleveland Guardians line up for the playing of the national anthem before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Parker Messick followed the Tampa Bay Rays when he was growing up in Plant City, Fla.

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