Rays ruin Gerrit Cole's season debut, match franchise-best stretch

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nick Fortes (40) and relief pitcher Bryan Baker (47) celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Rays ruin Gerrit Cole's season debut, match franchise-best stretch

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated May 22, 2026 11:27 PM ET

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With another come-from-behind win, the Tampa Bay Rays added to their American League-leading win total on Friday night.

In beating the New York Yankees 4-2, the Rays have now won 22 out of their last 26 games, creating a stretch that only produced one other time in franchise history.

The Rays' 22-4 record over their past 26 games marks only the second such occurrence in a season in Tampa Bay history.

The Rays needed some late-inning heroics to secure their latest victory. After trailing 1-0 since the fifth, Tampa Bay put up all four of their total runs in the top of the eighth.

Rays scored all four of their runs in a wild eighth inning

First, first baseman Jonathan Aranda tied the game with an RBI single. Then, Richie Palacios sends a pitch up the middle of the infield and knocks a pair of runs home. Junior Caminero drove the Rays' final insurance run in with a sacrifice fly.

RICHIE RICH REALNESS pic.twitter.com/RRujkmTAnL
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 23, 2026

Tampa Bay ruined Gerrit Cole's season debut

The victory ruined Gerrit Cole's strong season debut. Cole pitched a shutout in six innings of work, giving up only two hits with three walks and two strikeouts in his first start in well over a year.

But the Rays were the ones leaving Yankee Stadium smiling, taking game No. 1 of the two teams' weekend series. Sitting at the top of the entire American League, Tampa Bay (34-15) now holds a 5.5-game lead over the Yankees for the East division lead.

Looking to build on the momentum gained from this game and how dominant they've been throughout most of the season, the Rays will try to claim the series Saturday afternoon. The first pitch for the quick turnaround second game of the series is set for 1:35 p.m. ET.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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