The Rays tried to buy their starters an extra day after wrapping up the American League East on Tuesday, but Wednesday’s plan unraveled fast in New York.
Right-hander Mason Englert got the call to soak up innings, and the Yankees wasted no time turning it into a long night. Englert was gone before finishing the fourth, beaten by four home runs in a 9-2 loss that opened with a punch and kept getting worse.
Ben Rice set the tone on the very first pitch, launching a sinker 379 feet at 108.4 mph off the bat for a 1-0 Yankees lead. New York pushed the margin to 2-0 in the second with a pair of hits, then blew the game open in the third.
That inning started with rookie George Lombard Jr. going deep to right-center. Englert then put runners on and, with two outs, loaded the bases before Ryan McMahon unloaded them with a grand slam. Rice capped the barrage in the fourth with another blast to right-center, a 383-foot shot that sent Englert to the showers.
The Rays managed only six hits and never found much traction in a game that came on the heels of the emotional release of clinching the division the night before, with the possibility of a late-night celebration hanging over the club as well.
Tampa Bay’s AL-best record fell to 96-62. The club did get on the board in the fourth, when Liam Hicks drew a two-out walk and Jonny DeLuca drove him in with one of his three hits. Cedric Mullins added another run in the fifth with a homer off Yankees starter Gerritt Cole, his 15th of the season.
To make room for Englert, the Rays optioned rookie reliever Alex Cook. Manny Rodriguez appears likely to be activated off the injured list on Thursday to take Englert’s spot.
There was one scare for Tampa Bay in the first inning when rookie outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. appeared to be in severe pain after jamming his right shoulder while diving back into first base. He went from writhing and screaming to OK and stayed in the game.
The Rays’ postseason path remains set, with the ALDS beginning Oct. 3.
Game 1 is scheduled for Rays against the Yankees-Red Sox/White Sox/Guardians winner at home, followed by Game 2 on Oct. 5, then Game 3 on Oct. 7 on the road. If needed, Game 4 is Oct. 8 and Game 5 is Oct.
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