The Tampa Bay Rays (96-61) split a day-night double-header with the New York Yankees (90-67) 6-1 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. With the win, the Rays clinched the American League East championship for the first time since 2021, and will be the #1 seed in the American League Playoffs.
The Rays dropped the first game of the day 2-0, before winning the second game 6-1. In the first game, Carlos Rodon (7-3, 2.67) kept the Rays off-balance throughout. He pitched eight shutout innings allowing just three hits while striking out eight and walking none. Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning off Nick Martinez (15-5, 2.94) that would be the only offense of the game.
In the second game, it was Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67) picking up the win in a dominant effort. He did not allow a hit in the game until the seventh inning - he finished his night allowing one earned run on just one hit while striking out eleven and walking three. The Rays got one run in the third before adding three huge runs in the seventh to take control of the game. Bryan Baker got the final three outs to close out the division-clinching win.
With the American League East race decided, the Rays and Yankees now look ahead to game three of a four-game series on Wednesday. Ian Seymour (9-7, 4.38) is scheduled to start for the Rays and face Gerrit Cole (9-9, 3.63) for the Yankees. First pitch Wednesday is scheduled for 7:05 PM at Yankee Stadium - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting Inside Pitch at 6:00 PM on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES