Rays score four in fifth off Schlittler, take 2-0 ALDS lead over Yankees

Freddy Peralta worked 4.2 innings, but Tampa Bay chased Cam Schlittler after 76 pitches and moved within one win of the ALCS with a 5-2 Game 2 victory.

Tampa Bay defeated the New York Yankees 5-2 in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, grabbing a 2-0 lead that leaves the Rays one victory shy of the American League Championship Series. The result also placed New York on the verge of elimination.

Freddy Peralta drew the start for Tampa Bay and worked 4.2 innings. A Ben Rice home run stood as the only run scored against him, and he kept the Yankees quiet in every other frame. The shortened night ultimately cost the Rays nothing.

Opposing him was Cam Schlittler, considered the leading candidate for the 2026 American League Cy Young Award, and the Rays handled the assignment well. A fifth-inning burst produced four of Tampa Bay's five runs, and Schlittler was done after 76 pitches with two runs on his line. New York went to its bullpen from there.

Cashing in against a pitcher of Schlittler's caliber is among the more demanding tasks in the sport, and Peralta wanted his hitters recognized for it. Speaking with reporters afterward, in comments circulated by Ryan Bass of MLB TV, he praised the way the lineup went after New York's ace and described a group whose confidence is visible at the plate and even before the team reaches the ballpark. "I think that we are amazing in general, man. These guys, you can see the confidence when they are going to the plate, doing the little things in every at-bat. I think that the confidence, you can tell the confidence when they are stepping on the bus. I'm really proud of them, and you know, I enjoy with them. Together," Peralta said.

Consistent contact is a cornerstone of how Tampa Bay pressures opponents, and New York's defense could not cope. Rays hitters kept forcing defenders to make play after play, and four times those attempts went awry. The Yankees finished with four errors, and Tampa Bay deserved a share of the credit for the pressured situations its approach created.

The appearance also underscored how sharply Peralta's fortunes turned this year. He produced poorly for a Mets club whose season collapsed before a change of scenery reversed his year, and he finished it on the mound in October for Tampa Bay. Across 10 regular-season starts for the Rays, he pitched to a 3.25 ERA over 55.1 innings.

Tampa Bay can end the series as early as Wednesday, when Nick Martinez is in line to start Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. One more victory would eliminate the Yankees and send the Rays to the ALCS. Kevin Cash anticipates a "challenging" environment there despite his team's cushion, while Yankees manager Aaron Boone has addressed what his roster must do to take Game 3.