Yankees Achieve Their 90th Win of the 2026 Season Over the Rays
The 2026 New York Yankees are down to their final week of the season. New York began a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday afternoon, which would be the first of a doubleheader on Tuesday between the two teams. This first game was decided by one swing of the bat by Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger. A two-run home run and an incredible effort on the mound by New York’s starter Carlos Rodón helped the Bronx Bombers to a 2-0 win to take the first game of the series. The Yankees allowed only three hits during this win and sit just five games behind the Rays in the AL East. Winning or potentially sweeping the series could give the Bronx Bombers the division, something they’ve been chasing for the entire season.
Rodón Showed Up
Rodón showed up in this opening matchup against the Rays. The three-time all-star pitcher went the distance, pitching eight innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight batters in the Bronx Bombers’ win. This was a phenomenal start for the 33-year-old, and this may be the final start of the 2026 season, as it’s undetermined who will be pitching in New York’s final series of the year against the Baltimore Orioles. Whether he’s starting in the Wild Card Round or coming out of the bullpen, the Yankees should have huge relief about Rodón’s performance going forward.
Bellinger’s Big Two-Run Homer in the Fourth
The only two runs of the game came from three-time all-star Bellinger, who knocked a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth against Rays starter Nick Martinez. Yankees designated hitter and near 40-home-run hitter Ben Rice started the inning with a double, but Bellinger’s homer really put an exclamation point on the game and made it what it was. Plus, in the top of the sixth inning, the 2019 NL MVP caught a line drive off the bat of Tampa Bay’s second baseman Richie Palacios. Bellinger would throw out Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. at first base to make a solid double play that could define this four-game series.
