Rays open AL Division Sequence with a 1-0 win over Yankees – NBC New York

Drew Rasmussen did not permit successful till two outs within the eighth inning, Jonathan Aranda homered off Gerrit Cole and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 1-0 of their AL Division Sequence on Saturday evening.

Rasmussen retired 15 consecutive batters earlier than Austin Wells doubled with two outs within the eighth inning, ripping a liner simply contained in the right-field foul line on an inside sinker.

He was simply thrown out on shortstop Taylor Partitions’ relay to 3rd baseman Junior Caminero of proper fielder Victor Mesa Jr. ’s throw. Wells ran by the cease signal of third base coach Luis Rojas, who raised each arms earlier than Wells rounded second.

Rasmussen dominated a lineup that scored 18 runs in a two-game Wild Card Sequence sweep of Boston and was nonetheless lacking three-time AL MVP Aaron Choose, sidelined since Sept. 16 by a calf harm.

A 31-year-old righty, Rasmussen struck out 10 and walked two in eight innings. He threw 69 of 101 pitches for strikes, getting 23 swings and misses.

Bryan Baker pitched an ideal ninth for the save, ending the one-hitter. He struck out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton, in his first plate look since April 24 after recovering from calf accidents, froze Ben Rice with a

changeup for a known as third strike and retired Cody Bellinger on a grounder to safe Tampa Bay’s first postseason win since dropping the 2020 World Sequence to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baker transformed 41 of 44 saves within the common season, together with his final 30.

Recreation 2 of the best-of-five collection is Monday evening at Tropicana Area.

Aranda drove a Cole’s 2-2 changeup a number of rows deep into the right-center area stands for his first profession postseason hit.

In his first postseason recreation since Tommy John surgical procedure in March 2025, Cole allowed one run and 5 hits, putting out 5 in 5 innings.

A loud, boisterous, crowd rang cowbells and drowned out Yankees followers within the quirky Trop, which hosted its first postseason recreation since Hurricane Milton blew the roof off in October 2024. The Rays have been compelled to play their 2025 season throughout the bay at Steinbrenner Area, the spring coaching residence of the Yankees.

Rasmussen was 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA for the Rays and made the All-Star staff for the second straight season. The 31-year-old twice had surgical procedure for a torn ligament in his elbow in school and wanted an inner brace process in July 2023 that compelled him to overlook greater than a 12 months.

His 10 strikeouts tied Tyler Glasnow’s franchise report for essentially the most in a postseason recreation.
Rasmussen has had success towards the AL East rival Yankees all through his profession. He entered with a 1.81 ERA in 10 profession begins and one reduction look towards New York.

Up subsequent, RHP Cam Schlittler, the favourite to win the AL Cy Younger Award, will begin Recreation 2 for the Yankees. The Rays haven’t introduced a starter. Proper-handers Griffin Jax and Freddy Peralta are two choices.

By ROB MAADDI
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

AP Wire ID d01dbfc8707a7dc41c1df57d94227890