The Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees with a 4-3 victory in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, ending New York’s season.
Left-hander Max Fried started for the Yankees and was charged with the loss after allowing four earned runs. After the game, he addressed the elimination.
“I don’t think there’s enough words to sum it up. Just a lot of disappointment. It’s not the way we wanted to end, not what we were expecting. It just really sucks,” Fried said.
The comment came minutes after the final out in front of a sold-out crowd of 48,865. Fried worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and no walks while striking out seven. He surrendered two home runs.
Victor Mesa Jr. delivered the decisive blow with a two-run homer in the sixth inning off Fried’s sweeper, putting the Rays ahead 4-2. It was the first home run Fried had allowed to a left-handed batter since August 2025.
Anthony Volpe appeared to answer with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, but umpires overturned the call after review because of fan interference. The play was ruled an RBI double, and the score stayed 4-3. The Yankees did not score again.
Jonathan Aranda opened the scoring with an RBI single in the third. Ben Rice tied it with an RBI single in the bottom half. Ryan Vilade hit a solo homer in the fourth to restore the Rays’ lead, and Spencer Jones answered with an RBI double.
Nick Martinez started for Tampa Bay and allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. The Rays’ bullpen held the one-run lead the rest of the way.
The Yankees never led in the series. They managed only five runs across the three games and were shut out in the opener. Aaron Judge watched from the bench because of a calf injury.
Tampa Bay finished the regular season 98-64 and won the AL East. New York went 93-68 and reached the postseason as a wild-card team after sweeping the Boston Red Sox.
Fried entered Wednesday with a 5-5 record and 2.80 ERA in 112 2/3 regular-season innings, with 104 strikeouts and a 0.99 WHIP. He had allowed one earned run in six innings in the Yankees’ wild-card clincher against Boston on Sept. 30.
The Rays advanced to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2020. They will host the winner of the Chicago White Sox-Cleveland Guardians series, with Game 1 set for Monday.
New York’s World Series drought stretched to 17 years. The franchise last won the title in 2009.
Fried’s outing marked his second postseason start of 2026 and left the Yankees with another early October exit against a division rival.
