St. Petersburg, Fla. – Tampa Bay Rays fans celebrated a historic start to the AL Division Series on Saturday night as the team edged the New York Yankees 1‑0 in Game 1. The victory was anchored by a masterful performance from rookie right‑hander Drew Rasmussen, who carried a no‑hit bid into the eighth inning.
Rasmussen’s Near‑Perfect Night
Rasmussen retired the first 15 batters he faced, allowing his first hit only with two outs in the eighth. He struck out 10, walked two, and threw 69 of his 101 pitches for strikes, generating 23 swings and misses. The lone hit came when Jonathan Aranda launched a two‑run changeup deep into right‑center for a home run, providing the only run of the game.
Rays’ Bullpen Seals the Win
After Rasmussen’s exit, the Rays relied on their bullpen to preserve the shutout. Bryan Baker delivered a flawless ninth inning, recording three strikeouts, including pinch‑hitter Giancarlo Stanton’s first plate appearance since April 24. Baker’s perfect ninth capped a season in which he converted 41 of 44 save opportunities, including a streak of 30 consecutive saves.
Yankees Missing Key Players
New York entered the series without three‑time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since Sept. 16. The Yankees also lacked several regulars, contributing to the offensive drought that plagued them throughout the game.
Game Atmosphere and Venue
The crowd at Tropicana Field was lively, with fans ringing cowbells and cheering loudly, creating a boisterous backdrop for the postseason matchup. This was the first postseason game at the venue since Hurricane Milton damaged the roof in October 2024, and the Rays have been playing home games at Steinbrenner Field during the 2025 season.
Rasmussen’s Background and Record
Rasmussen, a 31‑year‑old right‑hander, posted a 16‑5 record with a 2.67 ERA for the Rays last season and earned an All‑Star selection for the second consecutive year. He overcame two elbow surgeries in college and an internal brace procedure in July 2023, missing more than a year of play. His ten strikeouts tied franchise pitcher Tyler Glasnow’s postseason record, and he entered the game with a 1.81 ERA in ten career starts against the Yankees.
Looking Ahead
Game 2 of the best‑of‑five series is scheduled for Monday night at Tropicana Field, where the Rays will look to build on their pitching dominance and aim for a series‑winning advantage.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
