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Max Fried falters for Yankees and leaves Carlos Rondon a non-factor in ALDS

The New York Yankees were eliminated from the American League Division Series with a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3, completing a three-game sweep and extending their championship drought to 17 years. The decisive moment came in the sixth inning, when Victor Mesa Jr.

hit a go-ahead two-run home run off Max Fried’s 80th pitch, sealing the Yankees’ exit from postseason contention. Fried, who had given up two home runs by that point, was taken out of the game in the sixth inning, leaving the Yankees without a viable left-handed option.

The loss marked the end of the Yankees’ postseason run after a series that saw them shut out in the opener of the ALDS and commit four errors in Game 2. Fried’s performance was particularly damaging, as he allowed multiple runs in three of his final four frames, including a two-run homer from Mesa Jr.

that proved insurmountable. The Yankees’ offense failed to capitalize on key opportunities, with Anthony Volpe’s would-be tying homer in the bottom of the sixth inning changed to a double on video review, and no runner advancing past second base afterward.

Trent Grisham struck out to end the ninth inning, finalizing the sweep.

The Yankees’ struggles were compounded by the absence of key players, including Aaron Judge, who was left off the roster for the AL Wild Card Series and the ALDS due to a calf injury. Without Judge, the team’s lineup lacked its most consistent power threat.

Manager Aaron Boone, who faced chants of “Fire Boone!” from fans at Yankee Stadium, oversaw a team that was unable to overcome its defensive and offensive miscues, including a replay review that awarded an RBI double to Volpe after a spectator interfered with the ball over the outfield wall.

The replay review added another layer of frustration for the Yankees, as the official determined the ball would not have left the field nor been caught had the spectator not interfered. Victor Mesa Jr.

later commented on the play, stating, *“On that play, I feel like the ball carried a little bit more than what it should,”* while Anthony Volpe reflected, *“Just seeing it through the replay and just hoping for the best.”* A fan’s hands were over the outfield wall and in the field of play when he caught the ball.

Despite Spencer Jones’ productive two-for-two performance with a single and a double, the Yankees’ inability to sustain momentum proved decisive in their swift elimination. Giancarlo Stanton’s postseason struggles continued as he struck out in his second at-bat of the postseason, adding to the Yankees’ offensive woes.

The team’s collapse in the series was complete, with Fried’s ineffectiveness and the Rays’ timely hitting combining to end their hopes of advancing to the American League Championship Series.

The sweep leaves the Yankees with no immediate postseason opportunities, as their next challenge will come in the regular season, now extended by one more year without a title.

This report also draws on coverage from Fox Sports, MLB.com, 247Sports, RG.org.

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