Rays send Yankees home in epic ALDS sweep

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Rays send Yankees home in epic ALDS sweep

Originally posted on MLB on ClutchPoints
By Lorenzo J. Reyna, ClutchPoints | Last updated Oct 7, 2026 11:47 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Rays witnessed Nick Martinez needing to leave early amid an MLB Injury. But later watched the New York Yankees hit the exit during the MLB Playoffs. Tampa Bay busted out the brooms and sent Yankee fans into dejection.

Tampa Bay swept the Yankees with a 4-3 victory in the Bronx on Wednesday night. The Rays got Yankee fans to not only think about what could’ve been. But also get them ripping manager Aaron Boone.

Tampa needed to break out of a tie to swing the tide toward the Rays’ way. So Victor Mesa Jr. answered the bell, smashing a two-run home run blast over right center field that broke the 2-2 score.

VICTOR MESA JR. WITH A BIG 2-RUN HOMER

The Rays take a 4-2 lead in the 6th! pic.twitter.com/BbqVmSK4Dv

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 8, 2026

Mesa powered through a 77 miles per hour sweeper from pitcher Max Fried, who couldn’t help but watch his pitch top 401 feet before scaling over the wall. Mesa also brought Junior Caminero home on that rip.

Yandy Diaz chipped one hit for Tampa, which delivered seven total team hits facing the rotation of Fried, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar. Fried took the loss in allowing all seven hits and the four runs, not just limited to the two-run homer.

Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, Jonny DeLuca, Taylor Walls and Ryan Vilade each produced one hit too for the Rays. Once again, TB needed to overcome its starting pitcher Martinez leaving with an injury. He took a line drive hit from Anthony Volpe that forced him out. Martinez had allowed five hits with two runs but struck out three before leaving. Volpe even landed on the wrong side of a controversial fan interference moment.

Ian Seymour claimed the win on the mound, striking out two and allowing one hit.

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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