Austin Wells ended Drew Rasmussen’s no-hit bid with a two-out double in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday night, but was subsequently thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple as the Tampa Bay Rays led the New York Yankees 1-0, according to Yahoo Sports reporting. Rasmussen dominated through eight frames before yielding the lone hit, while Jonathan Aranda provided the game’s sole run with a third-inning home run off Gerrit Cole at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Drew Rasmussen Dominates Through Eight Innings Before Austin Wells Breaks Up No-Hit Bid
Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the late stages, retiring 15 Yankees batters before Wells connected on an inside sinker. The ball landed just inside the right-field foul line for a hard-hit line drive. The right-hander finished his night by throwing 69 of his 101 pitches for strikes, generating 23 swings and misses while recording 10 strikeouts and two walks across eight dominant frames.
The stellar outing followed a previous strong performance against New York on September 22, when Rasmussen threw six hitless innings before Heliot Ramos broke up the bid in the seventh. That September appearance required a career-high 114 pitches and helped the Rays secure the American League East title.
Base Running Mistake Derails Yankees’ Eighth-Inning Breakthrough
Rojas had raised both arms as Wells rounded second base, but the catcher pressed on and was easily thrown out by several feet. Shortstop Taylor Walls relayed the ball from right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. to third baseman Junior Caminero to record the final out of the frame via a full TOOTBLAN.
Catcher foot speed limited his chances on the play, capping a trying offensive season in which he posted a .186/.292/.332 slash line.
Jonathan Aranda Powers Rays Past Gerrit Cole in Series Opener
Tampa Bay secured all the offense it needed in the third inning when Jonathan Aranda launched a home run off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole. The solo shot stood up as the game-deciding run, backed by a bullpen that closed out the victory. After Rasmussen exited, closer Bryan Baker entered in the ninth inning and secured the save to lock down the 1-0 win.
The Yankees played without three-time American League MVP Aaron Judge, who was left off New York’s roster due to a calf injury. Rasmussen capitalized on the depleted lineup, silencing New York’s bats before the late-inning drama unfolded.
Rasmussen Nearly Joins Rare Group of Postseason No-Hitters
Postseason no-hitters remain rare achievements in Major League Baseball history. Prior to Saturday’s bid, only three playoff no-hitters had ever been recorded: Don Larsen’s perfect game for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series, Roy Halladay’s no-hitter for Philadelphia against Cincinnati in the 2010 National League Division Series, and a combined four-pitcher no-hitter by the Houston Astros against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 World Series.
Rasmussen’s eight-inning gem put him on the cusp of joining that exclusive fraternity before Wells’s line drive ended the bid.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ALDS Game 1 Pitching Duel
How many pitches did Drew Rasmussen throw during his outing?
Drew Rasmussen threw 101 pitches, landing 69 for strikes, while inducing 23 swings and misses across his eight innings of work.
Who drove in the only run of the game for Tampa Bay?
Jonathan Aranda provided the game’s sole run by hitting a solo home run off Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole in the third inning.
Why was Aaron Judge absent from the Yankees’ lineup?
Aaron Judge missed the opening game of the series because he was left off New York’s roster due to a calf injury.
What were Drew Rasmussen’s final statistics in Game 1?
Rasmussen finished with eight innings pitched, allowing just one hit, zero runs, two walks, and striking out 10 batters.
Worth a look
.png){kind=spacer}
