- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,195,716
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 08: Yandy Díaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a double in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field on July 08, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It takes a lot to overshadow a 4-for-4 night from Yandy Díaz. Eleven strikeouts, zero walks, and another dominant performance from the Rays’ pitching staff did just that in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Yankees.
This time it was Shane McClanahan setting the tone, followed seamlessly by Cole Sulser and Bryan Baker, as the Rays carved through New York’s lineup for a 3-0 victory. The Yankees drew no walks, struck out 11 times, and spent most of the evening chasing a moving target.
The game nearly took a different turn in the second inning.
Jasson Domínguez and Anthony Volpe opened the frame with back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners with nobody out and giving the Yankees an early chance to build momentum. Instead, McClanahan delivered a defensive play that defined his night. Max Schuemann bounced a comebacker that turned into a frantic scramble, but McClanahan calmly fielded it, flipped home to Nick Fortes, and erased Domínguez trying to score. What could easily have been a Yankees run became the second out, and when Austin Wells popped out moments later, New York walked away empty-handed.
Yandy Díaz got things rolling in the third with a double into left, his second hit in as many trips. Jonathan Aranda followed with a line drive single to right, bringing Díaz home for the night’s first run and a 1-0 lead.
McClanahan made quick work of the Yankees over the next three innings. The left-hander mixed his fastball and breaking pitches beautifully, generating weak contact early and strikeouts whenever he needed them. By the middle innings, New York hitters looked increasingly uncomfortable, often walking back toward the dugout after another late swing or frozen take.
The Rays added breathing room in the fifth, and Díaz had his fingerprints all over that rally, too.
Nick Fortes singled, Díaz followed with yet another base hit, and Aranda ripped a double into the gap to score Fortes and send Díaz racing to third. Tampa Bay looked poised for an even bigger inning before José Caballero made an outstanding defensive play for the Yankees, cutting down Díaz at the plate on Junior Caminero’s ground ball. The Rays had to settle for just one run, but the lead had doubled to 2-0.
The sixth inning delivered another reminder of how crisp Tampa Bay played defensively. After José Caballero reached on a bunt single, Fortes erased him trying to steal as McClanahan struck out Paul Goldschmidt, completing a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play. The sequence and call frustrated Yankees manager Aaron Boone enough that his argument eventually earned him an ejection, followed shortly afterward by bench coach Brad Ausmus joining him for a BOGO ejection.
The delay did nothing to cool off McClanahan, who promptly struck out Ben Rice to finish his evening.
McClanahan was efficient and dominant: 6.1 scoreless innings, five hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. The strikeout total was modest compared to the bullpen that followed, but his greatest accomplishment may have been refusing to give the Yankees free baserunners. Every hitter had to earn everything, and very few did.
McClanahan came into the game 7-0 this season and 41-4 on his career when he received at least three runs of support. The Rays found one final insurance run in the seventh. Taylor Walls worked the club’s lone walk, Díaz collected his fourth hit of the night with a sharp single, and Aranda lifted a sacrifice fly to center, pushing the lead to 3-0. Aranda finished with all three Tampa Bay RBIs, adding to an excellent season so far.
From there, the bullpen slammed the door.
Sulser inherited two runners in the seventh and escaped without allowing a run, striking out three over 1.2 scoreless innings. Baker handled the ninth with little drama, fanning all three outs around a harmless single to collect his 25th save.
By night’s end, the combined pitching line told quite a story. Eleven strikeouts, zero walks, six hits allowed, and zero runs. Dominant.
For the Yankees, there was not much to build on. They went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, stranded their few opportunities, and watched every flicker of momentum get extinguished before it could ignite.
The Rays look to win the series tomorrow, with Drew Rasmussen scheduled to start.
Continue reading...
