Rasmussen has no-hit bid for 7 2/3 innings, Rays open AL Division Series with a 1-0 win over Yanks

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Drew Rasmussen walked into the interview room while manager Kevin Cash was showering him with praise.

“That's the nicest you've ever been about me,” Rasmussen said after geeting Cash.

The powerful right-hander deserved all the superlatives.

Rasmussen didn't 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 their AL Division Series on Saturday night.

“He was dominant before the break,” Cash said. “He’s elite all season long. He’s really done that since he’s been a Tampa Bay Ray, coming over here, and his contributions. Feels like he continues to get better.”

Rasmussen retired 15 consecutive batters before Austin Wells doubled with two outs in the eighth inning, ripping a liner just inside the right-field foul line on an inside sinker.

Wells was easily thrown out on shortstop Taylor Walls’ relay to third baseman Junior Caminero of right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. ’s throw. Wells ran through the stop sign of third base coach Luis Rojas, who raised both arms before Wells rounded second.

Rasmussen dominated a lineup that scored 18 runs in a two-game Wild Card Series sweep of Boston and was still missing three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, sidelined since Sept. 16 by a calf injury.

“You say the word dominate. Man, I feel like I’m grinding out there,” Rasmussen said. “I mean, it’s the same thing regardless of the lineup. If you execute on a day, hitting’s really hard. And so it’s just one of those things that can I go out and throw strike one and can I execute at a zone with two strikes.”

The 31-year-old Rasmussen struck out 10 and walked two in eight innings. He threw 69 of 101 pitches for strikes, getting 23 swings and misses against a batting order that started eight left-handed hitters.

“I thought he was really sharp,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought his changeup was good for him and in play. Obviously, with our left-handed hitters, it looked like he had the cutter going when he needed to. Then the good four-seamer where he mixed in some sinkers off of it. His command is just really good and kind of what sets him apart. He’s got a great arsenal. The ability to pitch on both sides of the plate and up and down obviously makes him challenging and one we’ve had a hard time solving.”

Bryan Baker pitched a perfect ninth for the save, finishing the one-hitter. He struck out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton, in his first plate appearance since April 24 after recovering from calf injuries, froze Ben Rice with a changeup for a called third strike and retired Cody Bellinger on a grounder to secure Tampa Bay’s first postseason win since 2021,

The Rays haven't won a postseason series since losing the 2020 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Baker converted 41 of 44 saves in the regular season, including his last 30.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Monday night at Tropicana Field.

Aranda drove a Cole’s 2-2 changeup several rows deep into the right-center field stands for his first career postseason hit.

“We know the rival we have against the Yankees and the opponent that they are," Aranda said. “It’s important to get the first game, but we feel really good and I felt really good with that base hit.”

In his first postseason game since Tommy John surgery in March 2025, Cole allowed one run and five hits in five innings with five strikeouts. It wasn't good enough as the Yankees lost a 1-0 postseason game for the first time since the 1963 World Series.

A loud, boisterous, crowd rang cowbells and drowned out Yankees fans in the quirky Trop, which hosted its first postseason game since Hurricane Milton blew the roof off in October 2024. The Rays were forced to play their 2025 season across the bay at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the Yankees.

“That’s the best crowd noise I’ve ever witnessed in any ballpark,” Cash said.

Rasmussen was 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA for the Rays and made the All-Star team for the second straight season. He twice had surgery for a torn ligament in his elbow in college and needed an internal brace procedure in July 2023 that forced him to miss more than a year.

His 10 strikeouts tied Tyler Glasnow's franchise record for the most in a postseason game.

Rasmussen has had success against the AL East rival Yankees throughout his career. He entered with a 1.81 ERA in 10 career starts and one relief appearance against New York, and on Sept. 22 took a no-hit bid into the seventh against the Yankees in the win that clinched the AL East for the Rays.

“What wasn’t elite? I mean, he was just incredible and he did that in Yankee Stadium the night that we were fortunate enough to clinch,” Cash said. “It seemed like he went out and doubled down tonight. Made it pretty easy to sit back and watch and take some decisions out of our hands.”

RHP Cam Schlittler, the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award, will start Game 2 for the Yankees. RHP Freddy Peralta will take the mound for the Rays.

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Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, left, tags out New York Yankees' Austin Wells as Wells tries to stretch his double into a triple during the eighth inning of Game 1 of an American League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole prepares to pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of Game 1 of an American League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen, right, and catcher Liam Hicks walk to the dugout after retiring the New York Yankees during the seventh inning of Game 1 of an American League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda watches his solo home run against the New York Yankees during the third inning of Game 1 of an American League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen celebrates after striking out New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger to end the top of the sixth inning of Game 1 of an American League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers kept their cool against the Atlanta Braves in the second-hottest postseason game at Dodger Stadium.

Shade was at a premium Saturday for Game 1 of the National League Division Series, which began at 1 p.m. local time. The game-time temperature of 100 degrees fell just short of the record of 103 degrees set in Game 1 of the 2017 World Series.

“I've got a lot of respect for the fans that came out. It’s not easy,” said Tarik Skubal, who pitched the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory. “The sun was on us the entire game. Hopefully they packed some sunscreen.”

The announced attendance was 50,194, although there were plenty of empty seats with the feels-like temperature reaching 105 degrees.

“Pretty hot, pretty hot,” said Teoscar Hernández, who gave the Dodgers an early lead with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

The Braves seemingly were unfazed by the blazing sun, cloudless skies and rising thermometer while taking pregame batting practice. The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers? They stayed inside.

“Remember, we're from Atlanta,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said before the game. “It's not that big of a factor.”

Braves center fielder Lane Thomas added, "I feel like this is a little cooler 98 than Atlanta.”

Some of their fans agreed.

“It's hot, but it's not bad,” said Helen Greene of Valdosta, Georgia, who was sitting in the sun nine rows behind the visitors' dugout with her long hair arrayed under a Braves cap. “In Atlanta, my hair would have been up by now.”

Greene and her husband, Chad, were hydrating with water.

“I'll have beer later,” she said, smiling.

Fans still gathered in the outfield pavilions in hopes of catching a stray ball off the Braves' bats pregame. But other seating areas were mostly empty 90 minutes before first pitch.

Christopher Hernández of Long Beach and his girlfriend sat in the sun behind the Dodgers dugout with giveaway towels covering their heads.

“We play sports and we know how it feels to be in the heat and we know how to beat the heat, too,” he said, showing off a blue plastic bottle with a fan attached to spritz water. “It's not as bad as people think it is.”

Braves reliever Brent Suter graduated from Harvard in 2012, having majored in environmental science and public policy.

“In the back of my mind, I’m like 100 degrees in October in L.A., that’s definitely not normal,” he said before the game. “Obviously super El Niño is a big thing to do with that. It’s going to be a challenge for both sides to stay hydrated, especially the position players.”

Short heat spells in October are normal for Los Angeles, but the prolonged extreme heat warning — forecast to last at least a week — is keeping temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal. The average high in Los Angeles in early October is 81 degrees (27 degrees Celsius).

“Just making sure everyone is hydrated and staying loose and getting electrolytes in us,” said Suter, who pitched the final two innings for the Braves.

Emergency medical teams were in their usual spots around the stadium, staying alert for anticipated cases of heatstroke, dehydration, excessive sweating caused by heat exposure, and the more typical drunkenness.

The Dodgers encouraged fans to wear hats and sunscreen. They were allowed to bring in non-alcoholic drinks of one liter or less in factory-sealed plastic bottles. Empty refillable water bottles were also allowed. Bottle-filling stations and water fountains are scattered around the stadium.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Fans try to deal with the heat during the first inning of Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Fans try to deal with the heat during the first inning of Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers fans hold electronic fans as the heat soars during batting practice before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Dodgers fans raise their hands for a ball as the heat soars during batting practice before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Members of the Los Angeles Dodgers take part in batting practice before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Dodgers fans look on among empty seats as they shield themselves from the sun and heat before Game 1 of a National League Division Series baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)