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Small-ball Rays beat the sloppy Yankees 5-2 for a 2-0 lead in AL Division Series

The Tampa Bay Rays extended their playoff dominance with a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the AL Division Series, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five clash. Richie Palacios delivered a two-run single in the fifth inning to cap a four-run surge, while the Rays capitalized on three Yankees defensive errors—including a botched play by shortstop George Lombard Jr.

and a misaligned infield—that turned Tampa Bay’s small-ball approach into a decisive advantage. Cam Schlittler, the Yankees’ likely AL Cy Young Award frontrunner, lasted just 4 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) and six hits, as the Rays’ bullpen—led by Freddy Peralta and Ian Seymour—held on for the win.

The loss pushed New York to the brink of elimination, with Aaron Judge sidelined by a calf injury and the team scoring just two runs across the first two games of the series.

Ben Rice provided the only bright spot for the Yankees with a pair of home runs, including a game-tying two-run shot in the fourth that briefly silenced the Rays’ boisterous sellout crowd of 40,226. However, Tampa Bay’s relentless offense—highlighted by a three-run fifth inning—proved too much for Schlittler, who had dominated Boston in the wild-card round opener.

With one win away from the American League Championship Series, the Rays’ bullpen and clutch hitting will be tested again in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, where New York’s World Series drought now stretches to 17 seasons if they fall short.

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