MLB-best Rays rally late to beat Yankees, 4-2
NEW YORK - The majors-best Tampa Bay Rays knew better than to think things would be easy as they headed north to face the American League team closest to them in the standings.
Especially when the New York Yankees brought ace Gerrit Cole back early from his rehab assignment to make the start Friday on a cool and loud night at the big stadium in the Bronx.
Cole delivered, allowing just two hits over six innings.
But the Rays eventually got back to their old tricks, scoring four runs in the eighth - the key hit a two-run single that bounced through the infield - and rolling to a 4-2 win.
Closer Bryan Baker got the first out of the ninth, walked Austin Wells then retired Trent Grisham on a groundout and Aaron Judge on a loud flyout to center.
The victory may have come with a cost, however, as outfielder Jonny DeLuca left after pulling up going from first to third in the seventh inning. (Of potential note, outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. was removed from Triple-A Durham's game shortly after DeLuca left.)
The Rays extended their AL East lead over the Yankees to 5 1/2 games as they improved to 34-15 in winning their fifth straight, ninth in 11, 22nd in 26 and 29th in 37.
They are 14-2 vs. division opponents (4-0 vs. the Yankees) and 24-4 vs. all AL teams. Friday was their 14th come-from-behind win and their fifth when trailing after seven innings.
The Rays' eighth-inning rally unfolded like this:
Chandler Simpson reached on an error by Yankees shortstop and ex-Ray Jose Caballero.
Junior Caminero singled, sending Simpson to third.
Jonathan Aranda scored Simpson with a double to tie the score 1-1, logging his AL-leading 38th RBI, and sending Caminero to third.
Yandy Diaz was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Richie Palacios, facing lefty reliever Tim Hill, bounced a ball through the middle that ticked off Hill's glove and went over the head of Caballero, scoring Caminero and Aranda to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
Ryan Vilade, who replaced DeLuca in the seventh, delivered a sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Carson Williams.
Starter Nick Martinez had another strong start, allowing a homer by Yankees catcher Austin Wells leading off the fifth. It was the first homer allowed by Martinez ince April 11 (also against the Yankees), with 43 1/3 innings in between.
The Rays thwarted a potential Yankees run earlier when DeLuca made a strong throw from right field to home and catcher Nick Fortes made a diving tag on Grisham.
Martinez worked six innings, allowing nine hits and a walk, but just the one run. He extended his streak of allowing two or fewer runs to 10 starts, longest in the majors this season.
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 7:51 PM.