Yankees swept by Rays as late rally falls short in fifth straight loss

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees may want to just sweep this weekend’s series against the Rays under the rug.

But the stench of it will stick with them as they fly back to New York, owners of a five-game losing streak.

A miserable week came to a fitting end as the Yankees’ late comeback fell just short, getting swept by the Rays in a 5-4 loss on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

After they were dominated by Drew Rasmussen for six one-hit innings, the Yankees tried to come back against the Rays bullpen, getting within 3-2 in the seventh inning and then 5-4 in the ninth when Aaron Judge crushed a two-run homer.

Rays reliever Mason Englert retired the next two batters before Amed Rosario came within a few feet of tying it, instead settling for a double off the center field wall. The Rays then intentionally walked Austin Wells to bring up the struggling Ryan McMahon, who had singled and smoked a flyout in his past two at-bats.

Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a hit against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on April 10, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Getty Images

With Paul Goldschmidt being the last man left on the bench, Aaron Boone stuck with McMahon, who grounded out on the first pitch he saw to end it.

The Yankees finished with seven hits on Sunday, mustering only 13 runs and 25 hits across their five-game losing streak.

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The speedy, pesky Rays outplayed the Yankees all weekend — leaning especially on their well-executed small ball — and Sunday was no exception. They had no problem catching up to Cam Schlittler’s heat, touching him for a season-high seven hits and three runs across five innings to build a 3-0 lead.

Then, after the Yankees got within 3-2 in the seventh inning, the Rays added on with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings, refusing to give up any kind of momentum.

The last thing the Yankees needed to see on Sunday was Rasmussen standing on the mound for the Rays. The right-hander — who was originally scheduled to pitch earlier in the week before going on the paternity list and being bumped back to Sunday — entered his start having thrown 37 ²/₃ career innings against the Yankees and given up just five runs.

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) reacts after hitting a triple against the New York Yankees in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Sunday was more of the same, as he threw six shutout frames and retired the final 14 batters he faced.

The Yankees immediately took advantage once he came out of the game, but only to an extent. Ben Rice led off the seventh with a double — originally called a home run before a crew chief review showed it did not go over the yellow railing above the right field fence — against Cole Sulser before Aaron Judge walked. Cody Bellinger then lined a single up the middle to make it 3-1.

After Jazz Chisholm Jr. grounded out on a swinging bunt, Giancarlo Stanton pinch hit for Randal Grichuk — who was allowed to hit for himself in a big spot Saturday night and could not cash in.

The Yankees fans in attendance erupted when Stanton stepped out of the dugout, but against new reliever Kevin Kelly, he settled for a groundout that drove in another run to pull within 3-2.

Austin Wells then pinch hit for J.C. Escarra and put a charge into a ball at 106.6 mph, but the line drive went right to left fielder Chandler Simpson for the final out.