The New York Yankees offense was no match against Tampa Bay Rays ace Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday. He flirted with a no-hitter across seven innings and was dealing against the Yankees.
But Austin Wells played spoiler by hitting a double off of Rasmussen in the top of the eighth inning, breaking up the no-hit bid. Wells’ hit was immediately erased after he tried to stretch his double into a triple and was thrown out at third to end the inning.
Rasmussen’s lights-out performance helped the Rays complete a 1-0 shutout, keeping Yankees hitters off the scoreboard. His outstanding performance was followed by a scoreless ninth inning from Bryan Baker.
The Yankees were practically held hitless, unable to produce the long ball, let alone generate any offensive momentum aside from Wells’ lone hit. Even with Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton coming up to pinch-hit in the ninth, Baker struck him out, adding to the pitching dominance that Rasmussen set up for him.