This marked the first time in Yankees Postseason history that they were swept in a best-of-five ALDS. Despite the loss, New York's bullpen didn't allow a single hit, while their entire pitching staff didn't give up a single walk in Game 3.
The Yankees didn't lead at any point in any game this series.
For the Rays, it's their first Postseason series sweep in franchise history and their first ALCS appearance in six years. The last time they went was in 2020, when they defeated the Houston Astros in seven games before ultimately losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Their first ALCS was in 2008 against the Boston Red Sox, which also went the full seven games before the Rays lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
Tampa Bay now await the winner of the Cleveland Guardians-Chicago White Sox series as they move one step closer to possibly claiming their first-ever title.
Game recap and highlights
New York turned a rare 6-5-3 double play for the first two outs of the game before both teams went on to put up goose eggs through the first two innings.
Each went 1-2-3 in the first, while Tyler Wells recorded the first hit in the bottom of the second as starters Nick Martinez (TB) and Max Fried (NYY) got off to a hot start.
But Tampa struck first in the third inning. Jonny DeLuca got things started with a leadoff infield single, followed by Taylor Walls two batters later with an infield single of his own to put runners on first and second.
With two outs, Jonathan Aranda clutched it with an RBI single to score DeLuca from second as the Rays took a 1-0 lead.
New York returned the favor in the bottom of the third.
Following a Spencer Jones walk and a Jose Caballero grounder that moved Jones over to second, Ben Rice brought him home with an RBI single to right, making it a 1-1 game that didn't last long at all.
The score changed for the third straight half inning. Tampa's Ryan Vilade launched his first career home run off Fried that just barely cleared the short porch in right field.
But leads in this game rarely lasted long, and the Rays' 2-1 lead wasn't any exception...
With two outs, Martinez's night ended after giving up a single to Anthony Volpe. Tampa Bay brought in reliever Ian Seymour, and the Yankees immediately took advantage.
Jones brought in Volpe with an RBI double (advanced to third after the throw home) to tie it all up once more, 2-2, before Seymour got out of the inning by striking out Caballero.
It marked Jones' first career Postseason RBI.
Following a 1-2-3 fifth inning for both teams, the Rays reclaimed the lead in the sixth.
Following a Junior Caminero single, Victor Mesa Jr. launched a 401-foot home run, 107 mph off the bat, to put the Rays up 4-2 with his first career Postseason home run.
Chaos ensued in the bottom half of the inning.
Volpe hit what seemed, at first, to be a home run into the first row of the short porch to tie things up 4-4. However, after further review, fan interference was ruled after someone reached over the wall to catch the ball.
Volpe ended up at second, while George Lombard Jr. was granted the run to make it 4-3.
After another 1-2-3 inning in the seventh for both teams, the door started to open for the Yankees after Aranda failed to scoop the throw from Caminero to put Paul Goldschmidt on first.
Reliever Cam Booser followed up with two outs before the Rays made a call to the bullpen to bring in side-arm setup man Kevin Kelly to face Giancarlo Stanton. With the entire Yankees Stadium on their feet, Kelly delivered in the clutch, striking him out to send it into the ninth.
Yankees closer David Bednar went 1.2 hitless innings to give his team one last chance in the bottom of the ninth. But Rays closer Bryan Baker showed why he finished the regular season tied for the league lead in saves, and the AL leader with 41 (32 consecutive).
He sent down Volpe on strikes, walked Jones on four pitches, then tossed a first-pitch ball to Jazz Chisholm Jr. before a meeting was called to the mound. Staying in, Baker forced Chisholm into a fielder's choice, leaving the top of the Yankees order due up with two outs.
It was a final matchup against Trent Grisham.
Two strikes. Stadium on their feet. Baker threw the ball in the dirt as Chisholm stole second. On a 1-2 count, Baker delivered and struck out Grisham.
Now, they wait for their next opponent...
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