BREAKING NEWS: With Caballero’s double in the tenth inning, the Tampa Bay Rays defeat the New York Yankees 2-0 and break the deadlock.

José Caballero’s double in the 10th inning propelled the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees, as reported by Kai Soriano on April 21, 2024. Caballero’s crucial hit, which occurred early in the 10th inning, drove in Richie Palacios and set the stage for a winning play. Following the hit, Caballero advanced to third base and scored on a single by Ben Rortvedt.

Reflecting on his pivotal moment, Caballero stated, “I aimed to hit the ball to the opposite side, focusing on bringing the runner in.” This marked his first time making such a decisive hit during extra innings, and he was granted the opportunity to steal third base.

Pitcher Jason Adam showcased his prowess in the ninth inning by retiring Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Anthony Rizzo, with a notable fly ball from Soto and a strikeout against Judge, who had struggled throughout the game with three strikeouts prior.

Garrett Cleavinger sealed the game with a flawless 10th inning, earning his inaugural major league save and securing the Rays’ first shutout of the season.

Cleavinger’s pivotal role in closing out the game arose due to the unavailability of Tampa Bay’s regular closer, Pete Fairbanks, who was sidelined due to physical exhaustion stemming from stomach issues the previous day.

Adam praised the team’s performance, noting, “Our batters really delivered when it mattered most. It was a well-executed game from top to bottom.”

The Yankees faced their third shutout loss of the season, with manager Aaron Boone acknowledging the team’s offensive struggles, stating, “We just couldn’t generate enough offense.”

The game also marked a ceremony honoring broadcaster John Sterling’s retirement. Despite this celebration, the Yankees suffered their fourth loss in six games, with Judge’s four strikeouts bringing his career total of such instances to 10.

New York’s Nestor Cortes showcased solid pitching, allowing six hits in seven innings and striking out nine batters, his highest tally this season, without conceding any walks. Tampa Bay’s Zach Eflin also delivered an impressive performance, limiting the Yankees to three hits across six innings, with two of those hits coming from Soto, who boasts a .354 batting average.