Rasmussen shuts down Yankees to help Rays clinch AL East

NEW YORK -- Drew Rasmussen allowed his only hit in the seventh inning and struck out 11 as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 6-1 on Tuesday in the second game of a day-night doubleheader to clinch their fifth AL East title. The Rays (96-61) secured home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs and took their first division crown since 2021, when they won 100 games. Tampa Bay also earned AL East championships in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season along with 2010 and 2008, when the team had its first winning season after entering the league as an expansion franchise in 1998. Yandy Diaz hit two-run single off reliever John Schreiber in the seventh and had another two-run single in the ninth for his AL-leading 175th hit. Tampa Bay opened a six-game lead over the second-place Yankees (90-67) with five to play. The team is two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the majors and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Rays have led the division since June 27 and spent 128 days in first place ahead of the Yankees, who only had Aaron Judge for 66 games due to a fractured right rib and a sore right calf that likely will keep the slugger out of next week's best-of-three Wild Card Series at home. After closer Bryan Baker retired Yankees rookie George Lombard Jr. for the final out, the Rays shook hands on the field and exchanged hugs near the dugout to start their celebration. Rasmussen held the Yankees hitless until Heliot Ramos started the seventh with a double to left field. The right-hander exited after walking Jazz Chisholm Jr., but Kevin Kelly retired Austin Wells after allowing Lombard's run-scoring single. After finishing with three hits during a 2-0 loss in the opener, the Rays locked up the division title with a three-run seventh. Taylor Walls had a bunt single and Díaz lined a single to center field for a 4-0 lead. Díaz added another two-run single in the ninth. In the opener, Carlos Rodon allowed three hits in eight sharp innings as New York delayed Tampa Bay's division celebration with a 2-0 victory. Taylor Walls started the three-run seventh with a bunt single against Max Fried (5-5) when first base was left uncovered. Ryan Vilade hit an RBI groundout in the third after Diaz's flyball moved runners to second and third. Rasmussen (16-5) was nine outs from joining Matt Garza as Tampa Bay pitchers with a no-hitter when he gave up a leadoff double to Heliot Ramos on his 97th pitch. Garza held the Detroit Tigers hitless at Tropicana Field on July 26, 2010. After allowing Ramos' hit to left field, Rasmussen got the next two outs before walking Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a full count. Kevin Kelly entered and permitted rookie George Lombard Jr.'s RBI single before retiring Austin Wells on a groundout. Rasmussen threw a career-high 114 pitches, 72 for strikes. He threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of 24 hitters and notched his fourth career double-digit strikeout game. Rasmussen allowed one hit for the fourth time this year. He also yielded just one hit in six innings against the Yankees on April 12. Cam Booser and Bryan Baker pitched an inning apiece to finish the three-hitter. Fried allowed four runs and six hits in 6⅔ innings. The Yankees were held to three hits or fewer for the 13th time this year. The Associated Press contributed to this story.