Tampa, FL – Victor Mesa Jr. hit a 2-run homer in the top of the sixth inning and the bullpen held the lead as the Tampa Bay Rays swept away the New York Yankees 4-2 and they advance to the American League Championship Series.
After Mesa delivered his 2-run homer in the top of the sixth inning, Anthony Volpe hit what appeared to be a game tying 2-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, fan interference was called erasing one run off the board.
Nick Martinez started and worked 3.2-innings allowing 2 earned runs on five hits while striking out three and walking one. After Martinez the Rays used five pitchers to keep the Yankees offense in check. Ian Seymour followed Martinez and delivered 1.1-innings, Griffin Jax worked two innings allowing an earned run, Cam Booser worked 0.2-scoreless innings, Kevin Kelly worked 0.1-innings, and Bryan Baker converted the save opportunity working a scoreless frame.
The win goes to Ian Seymour while Max Fried is saddled with the loss.
Max Fried started for the Yankees and worked 5.2-innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking none.
Tampa Bay scored their first run off Fried in the top of the third on a Jonathan Aranda single that scored Jonny DeLuca.
The lead was short lived as Nick Martinez issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third to Spencer Jones who later scored on a 2-out Ben Rice single.
The Rays came right back to regain the lead in the top of the fourth as Ryan Vilade hit a solo homer, but once again the Yankees responded in the bottom of the frame. Anthony Volpe lined a single off the back of Nick Martinez which ended his night. Spencer Jones followed with an opposite field double off Ian Seymour that scored Volpe from first.
Junior Caminero delivered a 2-out single in the top of the sixth with the scored still tied at 2-2. Victor Mesa Jr. followed with a long homer to right to put the Rays on top 4-2.
The Yankees appeared to have tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Anthony Volpe’s fly ball seemed to clear the fence in left; however, after video review it was determined that a fan interfered with the ball in the field of play. Volpe was returned to second base, but the umpires determined that Spencer Jones would have scored on the play and awarded the Yankees the run which cut the score to 4-3.
The Yankees had their opportunities to tie the game but were unable to get the key hit. In the bottom of the eighth inning Paul Goldschmidt reached on a Junior Caminero to lead off the inning. Goldschmidt advanced to second with two out and Aaron Boone sent Giancarlo Stanton to pinch hit for Austin Wells. Kevin Cash responded by summoning Kevin Kelly from the bullpen to replace Cam Booser. Kelly struck Stanton out to end the threat.
Bryan Baker took over in the ninth inning and struck out Anthony Volpe to lead off the inning but then issued a walk to Spencer Jones. Jazz Chisholm grounded into what appeared to be a game ending double play but Taylor Walls relay throw was in the dirt and Jonathan Aranda was unable to field it cleanly. Chisholm stole second base to get into scoring position for Trent Grisham. Baker was up to the task and struck Grisham out to end the ballgame.
The Rays advance to the American League Championship Series against either the Cleveland Guardians or the Chicago White Sox. Currently, the Sox are up in the series 2 games to 1.
