Austin Wells breaks up no-hitter but baserunning blunder hurts Yankees: What happened?, tell me about this news today

In Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay Rays ace Drew Rasmussen was completely dominating the New York Yankees, carrying a no-hitter through 7 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts. The Rays led 1–0 courtesy of a third-inning solo home run by Jonathan Aranda off Gerrit Cole.

With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Yankees catcher Austin Wells finally broke up Rasmussen’s no-hit bid by lining a pitch down the right-field line.

The Big Lead

The blunder happened right as the hit landed: Wells was in position for an easy stand-up double, which would have put the tying run in scoring position with two outs. Instead, Wells made an overly aggressive gamble to stretch the double into a triple.

The Rays executed a crisp defensive relayfrom right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. to second baseman Richie Palacios, who threw to third baseman Junior Caminero. Caminero tagged Wells on a head-first slide for the third out of the inning.

The baserunning mistake instantly erased New York’s only hit and best scoring opportunity of the night. Rays reliever Bryan Baker went on to retire the side in order in the ninth inning to record the save, closing out a 1–0 win for Tampa Bay to give them a 1–0 lead in the series. After the game, manager Aaron Boone called the decision an obvious mistake.

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