Drew Rasmussen shut out the Yanks for 6 innings of 1-hit ball, and the super-speedy Chandler Simpson was again a pain in the ass as Tampa small-balled the Yanks for a 5-4 win on a Sunday afternoon in Tampa, sweeping the 3-game series and sending NY to its 5th straight loss.
Cam Schlittler pitched well but was done-in by Simpson and Tampa’s small-ball attack, which scored 3 runs on him in 5 innings with singles, bunts, and stolen bases. Simpson singled to lead off the 2nd and came around to score on a single by Junior Caminero and an ensuing groundout. The speedy Cedric Mullins led off the 2nd with a triple and was plated by a Taylor Walls single — who then stole 2nd base and scored on a single by Simpson.
That put NY down 3-0 and NY stayed down as Rasmussen was lights out through 6. NY rallied for 2 runs in the 7th as soon as Rasmussen left — with Ben Rice (double), Aaron Judge (walk), Cody Bellinger (RBI single), and Giancarlo Stanton (RBI groundout) cutting the deficit to 3-2.
But Simpson was at it again in the 8th, tripling to lead off the inning against Ryan Yarbrough and scoring on a sac fly, and Tampa got a small-ball run in the 9th against Brent Headrick with more singles and bunts to make it 5-2 Tampa.
Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR in the 9th to make it 5-4, and Amed Rosario hit a 2-out double to put the tying run on 2nd — but Ryan McMahon grounded out for the ballgame.
“Bad weekend for us, obviously,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “Staying in some close games, we have to find a way to get over the hump.”
NY falls to 8-7 and is now in a 3-way tie for 1st with Tampa, also 8-7, and Baltimore.
1. Schlittler Small-Balled by Tampa & Speedy Simpson
Cam Schlittler was dominant — striking out 8 in 5 innings with 1 walk.
Cam Schlittler’s 6th and 7th Ks thru 4. pic.twitter.com/IuXWSWuced
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 12, 2026
But the Rays were able to slap balls in play for 7 hits — including consecutive singles to lead off the 2nd by Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero; an ensuing groundout scored Simpson for a 1-0 Tampa lead.
Cedric Mullins led off the 2nd with a triple and was plated by a Taylor Walls single — who then stole 2nd base and scored on a single by Simpson to make it 3-0 Tampa.
After that Schlittler pitched a shutout 4th and 5th, finishing with 8 strikeouts and being named afterwards as a Pick of the Day by Pitching Ninja.
2. Rasmussen 1-Hit Shutout through 6
But Drew Rasmussen was even more dominant — 6 innings of 1-hit baseball, striking out 7 and walking none.
Drew Rasmussen’s 2Ks in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/JBu5XbGJg6
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 12, 2026
Rasmussen is 30 years old and in his 5th year with Tampa, after coming up with the Milwaukee organization. He was 10-5 2.76 last year.
Drew Rasmussen, Angry 91mph Cutter. ✂️
7th K pic.twitter.com/W6UOZPYL71
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 12, 2026
3. Yanks Rally for 2 Runs in 7th as Soon as Rasmussen Leaves
As soon as Rasmussen was lifted, NY went to work — against reliever Cole Sulser in the top of the 7th.
Ben Rice continued his early assault on an MVP Award with a double to right, Aaron Judge worked a walk, and Cody Bellinger singled in a run for a 3-1 game.
Belli brings home Ben ? pic.twitter.com/CUlBjeuTmm
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 12, 2026
Jazz Chisholm Jr. grounded out moving Judge to 3rd, and Giancarlo Stanton plated him with a groundout to 2nd for a 3-2 game.
4. Simpson Triple in 7th Puts Tampa Up 4-2
But Simpson was at it again in the 8th, tripling off Ryan Yarbrough to lead off the inning and scoring on a sac fly by Junior Caminero to make it 4-2 Tampa.
5. Tampa Gets Small Ball in 8th to Go Up 5-2
Tampa added an insurance run off Brent Headrick in the 8th — again with a small-ball attack: a leadoff single by Jake Fraley, a sacrifice bunt by Cedric Mullins to move Fraley to 2nd, a single by Ben Williamson to put runners on 1st and 3rd, and a sac bunt by Taylor Walls for a run. Tampa 5 NY 2.
6. Judge 2-Run HR in 9th & Rosario Double Get Yanks Close
Tampa brought in 6’4 righty Mason Englert for the 9th — and the Yanks had one more charge.
Ben Rice led off with a single, and Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR to center to make it 5-4.
All Rise. pic.twitter.com/XRTr8z21ui
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 12, 2026
Englert struck out Bellinger and got Chisholm to ground out — but with 2 outs, Amed Rosario hit a double off the wall in center — missing a HR by a few feet. That put the tying run on 2nd.
Tampa intentionally walked Austin Wells to put runners on 1st and 2nd — but Ryan McMahon grounded out for the old ballgame.
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