Ben Rice hits 40th, 41st homers as Yankees beat Rays 9-2 a day after Tampa Bay clinches AL East, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ben-rice-yankees-beat-rays/)

According to the CBS News report, the New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Wednesday night, just one day after the Rays had clinched the American League East title.

Key details from the game include:

• Ben Rice’s Milestone Night: Ben Rice hit his 40th and 41st home runs of the season. He launched the very first pitch of the bottom of the first inning into the right-field second deck for a leadoff homer, and later added another solo shot in the fourth inning. This performance tied him for the American League home run lead alongside Pete Alonso, Junior Caminero, and Yordan Alvarez.

• Offensive Support: Ryan McMahon delivered a major performance, matching his career high with five RBIs, highlighted by a third-inning grand slam that extended New York’s lead to 7-0. George Lombard Jr. also hit a home run for the Yankees, while Cedric Mullins homered for Tampa Bay.

• Pitching Performances: Gerrit Cole earned the win (improving to 10-9), giving up two runs and three hits across 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight. For the Rays, spot starter Mason Englert took the loss, surrendering eight runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings as Tampa Bay rested regular rotation arms ahead of the postseason.

• Playoff Picture & Injuries: The Yankees secured home-field advantage for the upcoming best-of-three AL Wild Card Series, with their likely opponent being the Boston Red Sox. The winner of that series will face the Rays in the Division Series. On the injury front, Rays manager Kevin Cash noted that left-hander Shane McClanahan will not return in time for the Division Series due to forearm tightness, though Garrett Cleavinger and Tyler Wells remain possibilities.