Rays wrap up AL East with 6-1 win over Yankees in nightcap

Tampa Bay clinched its fifth division title and first since 2021, getting six-plus one-hit innings from Drew Rasmussen and two two-run singles from Yandy Díaz.

Drew Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Yandy Díaz drove in four runs with a pair of two-run singles as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 6-1 in the second game of a day-night doubleheader Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

The win gave Tampa Bay its fifth division title and its first AL East crown since 2021. It also marked the earliest division clinch in franchise history by three days. The Rays improved to 96-61, moving six games ahead of second-place New York (90-67) with five games remaining.

Rasmussen allowed one hit over 6 2/3 innings, giving up a leadoff double to Heliot Ramos in the seventh. He exited after walking Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Kevin Kelly finished the frame after Austin Wells reached on a George Lombard Jr. RBI single. Closer Bryan Baker recorded the final out before the Rays celebrated near the dugout.

Tampa Bay, which lost the opener 2-0 while managing three hits, broke the nightcap open with a three-run seventh that included a Taylor Walls bunt single and Díaz's single to center. Díaz added his second two-run single in the ninth.

The Rays will enter the American League playoffs as the No. 1 seed with home-field advantage, and trail the Milwaukee Brewers by two games for the majors' best record.