Rays fail to convert several chances, get walked off by Yankees in 9th

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on May 24, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — The Tampa Bay Rays had several solid chances to take a lead Sunday, but failed to convert any.

That cost them in the end, as Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer off Kevin Kelly in the ninth inning to give the New York Yankees a 2-0 win.

Kelly has been one of the Rays’ top relievers, but gave up a leadoff walk to Trent Grisham then the homer to right.

Drew Rasmussen delivered a sterling start, working seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and one walk. It was his longest outing since May 11, 2023 — also here at Yankee Stadium — and his last before being sidelined prior to his most recent elbow injury.

After the steady rain that forced Saturday’s game to be postponed finally subsided early Sunday afternoon, the teams started on time, though with damp conditions and a 57-degree first-pitch temperature.

The Rays looked to take a 1-0 lead in the eighth.

They had Oliver Dunn on second (pinch-running for Yandy Diaz, who had a one-out double) and Junior Caminero on first (after he was intentionally walked after being up 2-0 in the count), when Ryan Vilade singled to center.

As Dunn headed home, Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger made a smart play and threw out Caminero going to third, getting the out just before Dunn crossed the plate. The Rays challenged, and replay confirmed the call.

They had a few other chances that they didn’t convert.

One came in the third against Yankees lefty starter Ryan Weathers, though it could have been more promising had Carson Williams not gotten picked off after a leadoff walk.

Still, Diaz and Jonathan Aranda rapped back-to-back singles with one out, but Caminero ground into a double play.

In the ninth, they had two on with two outs after a Nick Fortes one-out walk, a Taylor Walls fielder’s choice grounder (which forced out Fortes) and a Cedric Mullins single, but Richie Palacios struck out.

The Rays came into play Sunday having won five straight games, nine of their last 11, 16 of 19, 22 of 26 and 29 of 37. With a win, they would have matched the 2023 team for the best 50-game start in franchise history.

The Rays left after the game to take a train to Baltimore, where they have a 1:35 p.m. ET Monday holiday matinee against the Baltimore Orioles.

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