Thursday, 4 a.m.
No playoffs on the line. No division title. For the Tampa Bay Rays, it was probably the least important game of the year.
Alas, they played like it.
One night after clinching the AL East title, the Rays were clobbered 9-2 by the New York Yankees. The Rays managed just six hits and fell behind 7-0 after three innings.
The Yankees hit four home runs, two by Ben Rice and a grand slam by Ryan McMahon.
Rays' starting pitcher Mason Englert gave up eight runs and nine hits in just 3 3/4 innings.
Gerrit Cole got the win to impove his record to 10-9.
The Rays scored on a double by Jonny DeLuca and home run by Cedrec Mullins, his 15th of the year.
DeLuca had three hits for the Rays.
The Rays and Yankees play again tonight at 7 p.m. Ian Seymour will start for the Rays against Cam Schittler.