Shane McClanahan pitches, Jonathan Aranda hits Rays past Yankees again

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Jul 8, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Shane McClanahan delivered another strong start, and Jonathan Aranda drove in all three runs as the Rays blanked the Yankees, 3-0, on Wednesday.

After losing Monday’s opener of the four-game series, the Rays won the last two, improving their American League-leading record to 54-36 and extending their East division lead to five games over the Yankees, who have lost 14 of their last 18 and fell to 50-42.

The Rays are now in position heading into Thursday’s series finale to be no worse than the four games ahead they were coming in, and could have a six-game edge.

McClanahan, pitching with the benefit of extra rest for the second straight start, was dominant. He took a shutout into the seventh, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out five.

He retired 12 straight Yankees at one point and worked out of what little trouble he got into. That included making a key play himself when the Yankees had two on and one out in the second. He scooped Max Schuemann’s bunt with his glove and flipped the ball to catcher Nick Fortes in time to tag out Jasson Dominguez at home.

The Rays continued their extraordinary pitching this week, as Cole Sulser finished the seventh and worked the eighth, allowing one hit while striking out three. All-Star Bryan Baker finished for his 25th save and 14th straight.

The Rays didn’t do much against Yankees starter Gerrit Cole, who also worked impressively into the seventh, but it was enough.

In the third, Yandy Diaz, contributing for a second straight game after a quiet week following a left shoulder strain, doubled with one out. Jonathan Aranda, who also had been cool at the plate, starting play Wednesday 0 for his last 8, delivered an RBI single.

The Rays made it 2-0 in the fifth.

Fortes, the No. 9 hitter, rapped a one-out single. Diaz singled, and Aranda came through a second time with an RBI double to center.

The Rays added another run in the seventh.

Taylor Walls drew a leadoff walk, Diaz sent him to third with a one-out single, and Aranda scored him with a sacrifice fly. Aranda now has a career-high 61 RBIs, tied for fourth most in the league.