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Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-23 · by Larry Fleisher The Associated Press
On Tuesday, Drew Rasmussen pitched a near no-hitter for the Tampa Bay Rays against the New York Yankees, allowing only one hit and striking out eleven batters in seven innings. This victory clinched the Rays' fifth American League East title with a six-game lead over the Yankees with five games left in the season. Yandy Díaz contributed two crucial RBIs to secure the 6-1 win.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Summary
The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their fifth AL East title with a decisive 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday, securing home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs. The Rays, who have led the division since June 27, now hold a six-game lead over the second-place Yankees with five games left in the season.
Key Points
- Game Results: Tampa Bay won both games of the day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium (6-1 and 2-0).
- Rays' Performance: Drew Rasmussen pitched a no-hitter into the seventh inning, striking out 11 batters. Yandy Díaz hit two-run singles in the seventh and ninth innings.
- Yankees' Struggles: Despite delaying the Rays’ celebration with an earlier win (2-0), the Yankees saw their slim chance of overtaking Tampa Bay fade away.
- Playoff Implications:
- The Rays secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and will play in the ALDS, potentially facing the Yankees again if both teams advance past the first round.
- Aaron Judge's absence due to injury significantly impacted New York’s performance this season. Judge only played in 66 games out of 157 due to a fractured rib and calf soreness.
Quotes
- "Everybody asks the same question," Junior Caminero (Rays) said. "Nobody cared if it was at Yankee Stadium or not. What matters is just winning. We won today and we’ve got to continue."
- Kevin Cash (Tampa Bay manager): "This four-game series was circled on both schedules for quite some time. That’s because of the respect you have [for them]. It’s a very talented team that we know we could be seeing in 10-12 days."
Context
- The Rays, known as a small-market franchise with one of the smallest payrolls in baseball, continue to achieve remarkable success.
- New York's playoff hopes now hinge on advancing through the wild-card series.
This summary encapsulates the significance of the Rays' victory and its impact on both teams’ playoff trajectories.
Written for “Yankees Lose AL East To Rays” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
NEW YORK (AP) — Drew Rasmussen allowed his only hit in the seventh inning and struck out 11 as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 6-1 on Tuesday in the second game of a day-night doubleheader to clinch their fifth AL East title.
asserted
Rays → allow → title
The Rays (96-61) secured home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs and took their first division crown since 2021, when they won 100 games.
asserted
they → secure → games
Tampa Bay also earned AL East championships in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season along with 2010 and 2008, when the team had its first winning season after entering the league as an expansion franchise in 1998.
asserted
team → earn → 1998
Yandy Díaz hit two-run single off reliever John Schreiber in the seventh and had another two-run single in the ninth for his AL-leading 175th hit.
asserted
Díaz → hit → hit
Tampa Bay opened a six-game lead over the second-place Yankees (90-67) with five to play.
asserted
Bay → open → five
In the opener, Carlos Rodón allowed three hits in eight sharp innings as New York delayed Tampa Bay’s division celebration with a 2-0 victory.
asserted
York → allow → victory
Taylor Walls started the three-run seventh with a bunt single against Max Fried (5-5) when first base was left uncovered.
asserted
base → start → Fried
Ryan Vilade hit an RBI groundout in the third after Díaz’s flyball moved runners to second and third.
asserted
flyball → hit → second
Rasmussen (16-5) was nine outs from joining Matt Garza as Tampa Bay pitchers with a no-hitter when he gave up a leadoff double to Heliot Ramos on his 97th pitch.
asserted
he → join → pitch
Garza held the Detroit Tigers hitless at Tropicana Field on July 26, 2010.
asserted
Garza → hold → July
After allowing Ramos’ hit to left field, Rasmussen got the next two outs before walking Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a full count.
asserted
Rasmussen → allow → count
Kevin Kelly entered and permitted rookie George Lombard Jr.’s RBI single before retiring Austin Wells on a groundout.
asserted
Kelly → enter → groundout
Rasmussen threw a career-high 114 pitches, 72 for strikes.
asserted
Rasmussen → throw → strikes
He threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of 24 hitters and notched his fourth career double-digit strikeout game.
asserted
He → throw → game
Rasmussen allowed one hit for the fourth time this year.
asserted
Rasmussen → allow → time
He also yielded just one hit in six innings against the Yankees on April 12.
asserted
He → yield → April
Cam Booser and Bryan Baker pitched an inning apiece to finish the three-hitter.
asserted
Booser → pitch → hitter
Fried allowed four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.
asserted
Fried → allow → innings
The Yankees were held to three hits or fewer for the 13th time this year.
asserted
Yankees → hold → time
Up next
Tampa Bay RHP Ian Seymour (9-7, 4.38 ERA) opposes New York RHP Gerrit Cole (9-9, 3.63) on Wednesday night.
asserted
Seymour → oppose → night
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