The New York Yankees’ American League East hopes came to an end Tuesday night as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated New York 6-1 in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees won the opening game 2-0 behind eight scoreless innings from Carlos Rodón, but Tampa Bay responded in the nightcap to clinch the division and the American League’s top playoff seed.
New York managed just three hits against a Tampa Bay pitching staff that followed up its Game 1 loss with a dominant performance from Drew Rasmussen. The right-hander carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Heliot Ramos opened the frame with a double.
Rasmussen exited after Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked with two outs. George Lombard Jr. then delivered New York’s only run with a single that scored Ramos. Rasmussen finished with one run allowed on one hit and three walks over 6.2 innings while striking out 11.
Max Fried kept the Yankees within striking distance before Tampa Bay pulled away. Ryan Vilade’s groundout gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the third inning.
Tampa Bay added three runs in the seventh. Taylor Walls drove in Chandler Simpson with a bunt single before Yandy Díaz followed with a two-run single. Walls also scored on the play after a close call at home plate was upheld following a Yankees challenge.
Fried allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four.
The Rays added two more runs in the ninth against Ryan Yarbrough and Michael Fulmer, with Díaz delivering another two-run single.
Chisholm, activated before Game 2 after missing 12 games with a sprained right thumb, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
The Yankees continue their series against Tampa Bay Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start against Ian Seymour.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.