Drew Rasmussen and Tampa Bay Rays beat New York Yankees 1-0
“That’s the nicest you’ve ever been about me,” Drew Rasmussen said after greeting Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash following an extraordinary postseason performance. Rasmussen carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, Jonathan Aranda homered off Gerrit Cole, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 1-0 in Game 1 of their American League Division Series at Tropicana Field.
Rasmussen Dominates Yankees Lineup Into the Eighth Inning
Wells ripped an inside sinker just inside the right-field foul line for the only hit off Rasmussen all night. Wells had run through a stop sign raised by third base coach Luis Rojas.
Rasmussen blanked a Yankees batting order that had previously scored 18 runs in a two-game Wild Card Series sweep of Boston, while New York remained without three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge due to a calf injury.
Aranda Homer Provides the Game’s Only Run Against Cole
Jonathan Aranda provided all the offense Tampa Bay needed by driving a 2-2 changeup from Gerrit Cole several rows deep into the right-center field stands. The swing marked Aranda’s first career postseason hit. Pitching in his first playoff game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2025, Cole allowed one run and five hits while striking out five batters in five innings. Not since Hall of Famer Don Drysdale pitched a three-hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1963 World Series had the Yankees dropped a postseason contest by that identical 1-0 score.
Baker Closes Out the Ninth for the Save
Bryan Baker secured the victory by pitching a perfect ninth inning to earn the save. Baker eliminated pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton—who was stepping up for his initial plate appearance since April 24 following a calf injury recovery—caught Ben Rice looking on a changeup for a called third strike, and forced Cody Bellinger to ground out. The save completed Tampa Bay’s first postseason win since losing the 2020 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baker converted 41 of 44 save opportunities during the regular season, finishing out his last 30 consecutive chances.
Cam Schlittler Starts Game 2 at Tropicana Field
A boisterous crowd filled Tropicana Field, ringing cowbells and drowning out traveling Yankees fans in the venue’s first postseason game since Hurricane Milton damaged the roof in October 2024. Game 2 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Monday night at Tropicana Field. The Yankees will send right-hander Cam Schlittler, the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award, to the mound. The Rays have not yet announced their starting pitcher, though right-handers Griffin Jax and Freddy Peralta remain options.
“We know the rival we have against the Yankees and the opponent that they are,” Aranda said.
Postgame Reactions
Following the shutout, managers and players offered their perspectives on the hard-fought opener. He was dominant before the break,
Cash said about Rasmussen. He’s elite all season long. He’s really done that since he’s been a Tampa Bay Ray, coming over here, and his contributions. Feels like he continues to get better.
Cash also added about the atmosphere: That’s the best crowd noise I’ve ever witnessed in any ballpark.
Rasmussen reflected on his mindset on the mound: Man, I feel like I’m grinding out there. I mean, it’s the same thing regardless of the lineup. If you execute on a day, hitting’s really hard. And so it’s just one of those things that, can I go out and throw strike one and can I execute at a zone with two strikes?
Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered his assessment of the right-hander: I thought he was really sharp. I thought his changeup was good for him and in play. Obviously, with our left-handed hitters, it looked like he had the cutter going when he needed to. Then the good four-seamer where he mixed in some sinkers off of it. His command is just really good and kind of what sets him apart. He’s got a great arsenal. The ability to pitch on both sides of the plate and up and down obviously makes him challenging and one we’ve had a hard time solving.
Aranda also noted his feelings after his decisive swing: It’s important to get the first game, but we feel really good and I felt really good with that base hit.