Rays clinch AL East title and top playoff seed with win over Yankees

The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their fifth division title with a 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees in second game of a day-night doubleheader Tuesday as Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit in 6 2/3 innings and Yandy Díaz hit a pair of two-run singles. The Rays won the AL East for the first time since 2021 and beat that team by three days with the earliest division clincher in team history. Tampa Bay also won division crowns in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season along with 2010 and 2008, when it reached the World Series and had the first winning season in team history.

The Tampa Bay Rays were terrible houseguests Tuesday night. They showed up at Yankee Stadium wearing their brand-new Road Gray uniforms, refused to give the Yankees much at the plate, and then helped themselves to the American League East title. Drew Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Yandy Díaz drove in four runs, and Tampa […]

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. 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. 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.

The Tampa Bay Rays secured the American League East title after Drew Rasmussen nearly threw a no-hitter against the New York Yankees.

Nobody's catching the Rays, who are off to celebrate the AL East title and AL's No. 1 seed in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium.