Oh No, The Rays Lost. Anyway… Rays 2, Yankees 9
Watching your favorite team lose to one of your least favorite teams is never truly enjoyable, but it goes down a bit easier when the regular season prize is already in the bag. The only downside to this loss is the Rays must now win out to get to 100 wins on the season, but […]
New York, NY - September 23: The Tampa Bay Rays experienced a tough loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2026. The game was ultimately meaningless as the Rays had already secured the regular season prize. With 100 wins already achieved, their focus shifted to maintaining player health ahead of the playoffs.
The Yankees benefitted from a strong run differential in this game, giving them an edge heading into the postseason. Rays' pitcher Mason Englert allowed eight earned runs, including a grand slam and three solo home runs, leading to a final 12 outs. Kevin Cash made lineup adjustments, putting Victor Mesa Jr. in the leadoff spot to give Yandy Diaz a break from playing.
Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls were given the evening off. The Yankees' Aaron Boone was forced to use Gerrit Cole for additional innings due to the bullpen being well-rested, despite Cole's struggles early on. Hopkins' strong performance in the sixth inning, with multiple strikeouts, highlighted the Rays' resilience. As the team heads into a long layoff, they aim to stay healthy and sharp for the remainder of the season and potential playoffs.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
