Rays Blank Yankees 1-0 as Rasmussen Takes No-Hitter Into Eighth in ALDS Opener

Aranda’s blast, Rasmussen’s gem

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Drew Rasmussen did not allow a hit until two outs in the eighth inning, Jonathan Aranda homered off Gerrit Cole, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 1-0 in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday night, Oct. 3, the Associated Press reported.

Aranda drove a 2-2 changeup from Cole into the right-center seats in the third inning for his first career postseason hit and the game’s only run. Cole, making his first postseason start since Tommy John surgery in March 2025, allowed one run and five hits with five strikeouts over five innings.

No-hit bid broken in the eighth

Rasmussen retired 15 consecutive batters before Austin Wells doubled just inside the right-field line with two outs in the eighth. Wells was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple on a relay from right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. to shortstop Taylor Walls to third baseman Junior Caminero, after running through third-base coach Luis Rojas’s stop sign, AP said.

The 31-year-old right-hander struck out 10 and walked two over eight innings on 101 pitches, tying Tyler Glasnow’s Rays franchise record for strikeouts in a postseason game. Bryan Baker pitched a perfect ninth for the save, striking out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice before retiring Cody Bellinger, finishing a one-hitter.

Series context

The Yankees were missing three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, sidelined since Sept. 16 with a calf injury. Tropicana Field hosted its first postseason game since Hurricane Milton damaged the roof in October 2024. Game 2 is Monday night at the Trop; New York is expected to start Cam Schlittler.

Sources: Associated Press via FOX Sports; MLB.com; ABC News.