​ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In the Yankees’ postgame clubhouse, splitting the series on Thursday felt like a hard-fought victory in a key battle. Their six-run burst in the third inning was like stepping out of a long, dry spell. “I don’t know if exhale is the right word, but it definitely boosts our morale heading into the next series,” Ben Rice said after New York’s 12-4 afternoon win over the first-place Rays. “We’ve just got to keep that momentum going, keep that energy going.”
Rice found his power stroke again at Tropicana Field, driving four homers in the series, two coming Thursday, including a two-run blast during that pivotal third inning, and racking up seven hits in the game. Yet the standout moment belonged to Ryan McMahon, who fought through a 12-pitch at-bat against Drew Rasmussen, fouling off five consecutive pitches before ripping a game-tying RBI double to right. By the end, the Yankees had sent 10 hitters to the plate, built a 6-1 lead, and knocked Rasmussen—who had carried a 0.89 ERA against New York over his first nine appearances—from the game.
“We weren’t out of it completely,” McMahon said, noting the bullpen challenge that lay ahead with seven pitchers used. “But it felt great to have an inning like that.” In reality, the team needed a sequence of competitive at-bats that showed patience and energy against a formidable opponent. Even a foul-out by Austin Wells, who has been mired in a 1-for-25 stretch, helped McMahon move 90 feet and score on a Trent Grisham single—the first of five straight hits that followed. Wells would later launch his first home run since May 22, signaling that the Yankees were finally getting some traction and momentum for a comfortable victory.
“The great thing about it was that it was everyone,” manager Aaron Boone said, pointing to Max Schuemann’s leadoff double in the third as the catalyst. The Yankees still faced a Rays squad that holds a four-game lead over them, and New York would need a four-game sweep when they meet again in September at Yankee Stadium to avoid losing the season series.
But something shifted in that third inning, when the Yankees finally put together patient, professional at-bats against a tough opponent. Even a foul ball and subsequent flyout by the epically struggling Wells helped keep the inning alive, and the rally began to turn the game. Schuemann, starting in left field while Cody Bellinger played first base for the first time in 2026, helped set the tone with a leadoff double in the third. “Nice to see us… keep the foot on the gas and keep adding on runs,” Schuemann said, crediting a productive pregame hitters meeting where some players spoke up to bolster the team’s approach. The result was a much-needed demonstration that the Yankees can stack at-bats, maintain energy, and push through a resilient opponent, laying the groundwork for a stronger arc as they approach the next challenge.