Rays Sweep Yankees to Reach ALCS

The Tampa Bay Rays swept the New York Yankees in the ALDS, winning Game 3, 4-3, to end New York’s season and advance to the ALCS. Victor Mesa Jr.’s two-run homer broke a sixth-inning tie, and a disputed fan-interference play moments later helped preserve Tampa Bay’s lead; after review, Anthony Volpe was awarded an RBI double rather than a home run. The Rays’ bullpen held on, with Bryan Baker recording his third save of the series. Yankees manager Aaron Boone benched Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the elimination game after his defensive struggles and hitless start to the series, starting Volpe at second instead. New York’s weak hitting and costly fielding errors contributed to its elimination, while the fan-interference ruling drew comparisons to the 1996 Jeffrey Maier play at Yankee Stadium.