Rays' encore to AL East division clincher is a rough loss to Yankees

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Sep 23, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — Wanting to give their starters an extra day of rest after clinching the American League East title on Tuesday, the Rays summoned right-hander Mason Englert to start Wednesday’s game and cover as many innings as he could.

That didn’t work out too well, however, as Englert couldn’t get through the fourth inning, allowing four Yankees home runs — three leading off innings — in a 9-2 loss.

Englert allowed a long ball on his first pitch, as Ben Rice drove a sinker 379 feet at 108.4 mph off the bat for a 1-0 lead. The Yankees made it 2-0 in the second by rapping a couple of hits.

Then they broke the game open with a five-run third.

Rookie George Lombard Jr. led off with a homer to right-center, then Englert loaded the bases, including a single and walk with two outs, and gave up a grand slam to Ryan McMahon.

Rice completed the onslaught against Englert with a 383-foot shot to right-center to open the fourth.

The rest of the Rays didn’t do much good in a game that can be challenging following the emotional release of the division clinching the night before, and perhaps the late-night celebration, managing six hits.

The Rays, who saw their AL-best record drop to 96-62, got a run in the fourth when Liam Hicks drew a two-out walk and Jonny DeLuca knocked him in with one of his three hits.

They added another in the fifth on a homer by Cedric Mullins off Yankees starter Gerritt Cole, his 15th of the season.

To make room on the roster for Englert, the Rays optioned rookie reliever Alex Cook. Manny Rodriguez seems likely to be activated off the injured list on Thursday to take Englert’s spot.

Rookie outfielder Victor Mesa Jr., who has emerged as a key part of the lineup, had a scare in the first inning. He looked to be in severe pain after jamming his right shoulder diving back into first base. But he went from writhing and screaming to OK and stayed in the game.