Yankees Fall to Rays in ALDS Opener as Austin Wells Blunder Ends No-Hitter Bid
The New York Yankees lost their first game of the American League Division Series to the Tampa Bay Rays, 1-0, on October 3, 2026. The game featured a dominant eight-inning performance by Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen, who surrendered only one hit. Yankees catcher Austin Wells broke up the no-hitter with a double in the eighth inning but was thrown out at third base while attempting to stretch the hit into a triple, ignoring the signal from third-base coach Luis Rojas. Knicks star Josh Hart, a Yankees fan, publicly reacted to the loss on social media, mirroring the frustration of the fanbase. The Yankees, who swept the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round, will face the Rays again in Game 2 on Monday, with Cam Schlittler scheduled to pitch. The Rays manager, Kevin Cash, decided to keep Rasmussen in the game despite the risk, prioritizing the pitcher's health for the remainder of the series.
