Drew Rasmussen pitched seven and two-thirds scoreless innings and Jonathan Aranda homered as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 1-0 in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 3, 2026.
The postseason opener turned into a pitching duel between Rasmussen and Gerrit Cole before a sellout crowd of 40,542 at Tropicana Field. Aranda provided the game’s only run in the third inning when he drove a Cole pitch 417 feet to right-center field. Cole kept the Yankees within striking distance but received no offensive support.
Drew Rasmussen Carries a Postseason No-Hit Bid Into the Eighth Inning
Rasmussen dominated the Yankees’ lineup. He surrendered just one hit and two walks while striking out 10 on 101 pitches.
The performance followed a regular-season start at Yankee Stadium where he also carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
While skipper Kevin Cash chose not to map out the pitching order past Drew Rasmussen for Saturday night’s Game 1 opener, he mentioned that Tampa Bay plans to deploy all five arms—Ian Seymour, Freddy Peralta, Nick Martinez, Drew Rasmussen, and Griffin Jax—somewhere during the series.
Rasmussen twirled a gem in the Rays’ Game 1 win over the Yankees. He posted the American League’s top WHIP throughout 2026, which may very well earn him some votes further down the AL Cy Young ballot.
Austin Wells Breaks Up the No-Hitter But Gets Thrown Out at Third Base
With two outs in the eighth inning, catcher Austin Wells ended the no-hit bid by driving a double down the right-field line off Rasmussen. Trying to stretch the extra-base hit into a triple, Wells was thrown out at third base on a relay from right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. to shortstop Taylor Walls to third baseman Junior Caminero.
The play ended New York’s best scoring opportunity of the night, preventing Ryan McMahon from coming to the plate with the potential tying run in scoring position.
“Obviously not a good decision there.”
Aaron Boone, Yankees manager, via Newsday
“I think you have to take risks, but in that situation, obviously the risk was wrong. I can’t tell you if I would go again because the situation would be different, but obviously took the risk, didn’t work out.”
Austin Wells, Yankees catcher, via Newsday
Bryan Baker Closes Out the Ninth as Tampa Bay Secures a 1-0 Series Lead
Following Rasmussen’s departure, Rays closer Bryan Baker entered the game in the ninth inning. Securing the combined one-hitter, Baker forced Cody Bellinger to ground out after fanning both Ben Rice and pinch hitter Giancarlo Stanton.
A seven-man relief corps featuring Steven Matz alongside Cole Sulser, setup relievers Cam Booser and Kevin Kelly, and closer Bryan Baker will be rounded out by Cleavinger, Wells, and whichever starting pitchers are ready to pitch out of the bullpen.
The shutout halted momentum for a New York offense that had scored nine runs in each of their two games to eliminate the Red Sox. The Yankees are now hoping Aaron Judge can return to help them against the Rays.
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