Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ian Seymour throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Rays Take Control Behind Power Surge and Seymour’s Dominance
The Tampa Bay Rays extended their AL East lead to four games Tuesday night with a 6‑4 win over the New York Yankees, powered by consecutive home runs from Hunter Feduccia and Yandy Díaz and a commanding performance from Ian Seymour. Seymour struck out 12 in 5⅓ innings, becoming the first pitcher in 50 years to record that many strikeouts through five innings against the Yankees. He allowed three runs on five hits without a walk, improving to 6‑1. Bryan Baker closed out the ninth for his 24th save.
Yankees Set Unwanted Strikeout History
For the second straight night, the Yankees struck out 17 times, becoming the first American League team ever to reach that total in consecutive nine‑inning games. A night earlier, Griffin Jax fanned 10 in a 5‑1 Rays loss. On Tuesday, Seymour and four relievers piled up 17 more. Paul Goldschmidt and Jose Caballero each struck out four times, with Goldschmidt now mired in an 0‑for‑30 slump. Despite the strikeouts, New York collected 11 hits — their first double‑digit total since June 17 — but still dropped their 10th game in 12 outings.
Rays Flip the Game With a Four‑Run Fourth
Trailing 3‑2 in the fourth, Tampa Bay erupted for four runs off Yankees starter Will Warren. Richie Palacios tied the game with an RBI double before Feduccia launched a two‑run homer to right‑center. Díaz followed immediately with his 13th homer of the season. Díaz also singled home a run in the second, giving him 451 RBIs with the Rays and moving him past Aubrey Huff for fifth in franchise history.
Yankees’ Offense Shows Life but Not Enough
Ben Rice provided New York’s biggest swing with a three‑run homer in the third, his 26th of the season and second of the series. Rice, who will represent the Yankees in the Home Run Derby, also singled twice. Manager Aaron Boone said the team won’t overhaul its approach but acknowledged that several hitters need to get going as the Yankees continue to slide behind the first‑place Rays.
Up Next
Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (3‑3, 4.01 ERA) faces Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (7‑5, 3.05) in the third game of the four‑game set on Wednesday.
