Rays hold Guardians to 1 hit, complete 3-game sweep with 1-0 victory

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit through seven innings, Cedric Mullins drove in the only run of the game on a bunt single and the Tampa Bay Rays finished off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians with a 1-0 victory on Sunday.

Rasmussen (9-5) allowed a leadoff double to Steven Kwan to start the game before retiring 21 of the final 23 batters he faced, including the last 12. Rasmussen struck out nine and walked one.

Tampa Bay blanked its opponent for the eighth time this season, earning its second 1-0 win against Cleveland in 2026. The other was on April 28.

The game finished in 1 hour, 58 minutes, the fourth game in the majors this season to be completed in under two hours.

Parker Messick (8-6) allowed six hits and struck out six, allowing one run in 7 2/3 innings for Cleveland, which has lost five consecutive games. The Guardians were limited to three runs total in the series as Tampa Bay finished the series with back-to-back shutouts. Garrett Cleavinger pitched a scoreless eighth before Bryan Baker converted his 17th consecutive save and 28th overall after striking out Brayan Rocchio with the tying run on first to end the game.

The AL East-leading Rays improved to 38-15 at home this season.

Tampa Bay scored the only run of the game after Chandler Simpson led off the fifth with a single to left, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third when Ben Williamson grounded to second then came home on Mullins' bunt single.

Cleveland opens a series at Cincinnati on Monday with RHP Slade Cecconi (4-7, 4.60 ERA) scheduled for the Guardians against RHP Chase Burns (12-1, 2.42 ERA).

Tampa Bay hosts Texas starting Tuesday with the pitching matchup TBA for both teams.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen delivers to the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker follows through on a delivery against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan celebrates after hitting a double off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins, right, celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cleveland Guardians during a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson, right, scores ahead of the throw to Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges on a squeeze bunt by Cedric Mullins during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Lucas Glover removed his shoes to retrieve his ball from the hole in the final round of the 3M Open, TV commentators speculated it was in protest of the AimPoint green-reading system used by many PGA Tour players.

Turns out, he went shoeless for another reason: to prevent his metal spikes from making marks on the greens following a complaint by a rules official.

“Alright, let’s clear this up,” Glover posted on Instagram Monday. “For 23 years on the PGA Tour I’ve worn spikes. 23 years ago, most of us did. It hasn’t been that long since we were NOT allowed to tap them down. Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever had a complaint."

Glover's decision to remove his shoes came after he sank a birdie putt on the 10th Sunday at TPC Twin Cities. Once the ball rolled in, the 2009 U.S. Open champion walked off the green, removed his shoes and carried them to the hole to pull his ball out.

Glover walked back off the green and put his shoes back on.

Fellow golfer Michael Kim posted on social media that several players had complained to rules officials about spike marks on the bent grass greens, thinking it was Glover.

“First of all, it’s not the officials place,” Glover said. “I wasn’t breaking any rules. Secondly, there were people in the groups in front of me and behind me wearing metal spikes as well. The greens at 3M are bent grass, were soft, and appeared to have been watered a fair amount (because of the forecast I’d imagine). I don’t care what you wear on your feet, metal or soft spikes, in those conditions they are going to get beat up. I did my best around the hole to tap down my damage as I was leaving the area.”

Glover repeatedly mentioned that PGA Tour rules now allow players to tamp down spike marks on the greens, including a mention about playing in the Rocket Classic in Detroit this week.

“I’ll be wearing metal spikes, and the people playing behind me are still allowed to tap down the marks,” Glover said. “Did I mention that?”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Lucas Glover hits from the second tee during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club Thursday, July 23, 2026, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)