yardbarker
The Tampa Bay Rays mustered only a single run in their American League Division Series opener against the New York Yankees, but that was all they needed thanks to a masterful pitching performance.
Drew Rasmussen, making his seventh-year major league appearance and fresh off his second consecutive All-Star selection, took the mound for Tampa Bay and completely silenced the Bronx Bombers. The right-hander tossed eight scoreless innings, racked up 10 strikeouts, and kept the Yankees hitless through 7 2/3 innings in the 1-0 victory.
Rasmussen has historically dominated New York, with one glaring exception. Aside from a rough outing on July 9 when he surrendered six runs, he had never allowed more than two runs in a single start against the Yankees and even carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against them back in April.
The AL East foes will meet again on Monday night, with trade deadline acquisition Freddy Peralta set to face off against likely Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler.
Rasmussen's feat marked the first time a Rays pitcher recorded at least 10 strikeouts in a postseason game since Tyler Glasnow fanned 10 Yankees in Game 2 of the 2020 ALDS, a series Tampa Bay eventually won.
Key Analysis
Rasmussen's dominance adds another chapter to his impressive track record against the Yankees, reinforcing his reputation as a Yankee killer. His performance not only gave the Rays a crucial Game 1 win but also etched his name in franchise postseason history alongside Glasnow. As the series progresses, Tampa Bay will look to build on this momentum, while New York aims to solve Rasmussen's teammates in Game 2.
Originally reported by yardbarker.