Rays Sweep Yankees Behind Rasmussen's Strong Outing

Drew Rasmussen shines in return to Rays' rotation with six scoreless innings.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:07pm

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The Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees on Sunday, winning 5-4 behind a dominant performance from starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen. Rasmussen, making his return to the Rays' rotation, tossed six scoreless innings to lead his team to victory.

Why it matters

The Rays' sweep of the Yankees is a significant early-season statement, as the two teams are expected to be among the top contenders in the American League East division race. Rasmussen's strong outing is also an encouraging sign for the Rays, who are counting on him to be a key part of their starting rotation this year.

The details

Rasmussen, who had been sidelined with an injury, looked sharp in his return, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven Yankees batters. The Rays' offense provided just enough support, scoring five runs to hold off a late Yankees comeback attempt.

  • The game took place on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
  • Rasmussen had been out of the Rays' rotation due to an injury prior to this outing.

The players

Drew Rasmussen

The Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher who tossed six scoreless innings to lead his team to victory.

Tampa Bay Rays

The MLB team that completed a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees

The MLB team that was swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the three-game series.

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What they’re saying

“Drew really set the tone for us today with his dominant performance. That's exactly the kind of outing we needed from him as we look to build on this series win.”

— Kevin Cash, Rays Manager

What’s next

The Rays will look to carry the momentum from this sweep into their next series against the Boston Red Sox, while the Yankees will try to rebound quickly as they return home to face the Toronto Blue Jays.

The takeaway

The Rays have established themselves as an early-season force in the AL East, sweeping their rivals the Yankees behind a standout outing from starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen. This series win could be a sign of things to come in what promises to be a tight divisional race.