Tampa Bay Rays sweep Yankees to advance to ALCS

The Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, advancing to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2020. The Rays secured a 4-3 victory in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, driven by a two-run home run from rookie Víctor Mesa Jr. in the sixth inning.

The series concluded on a controversial play when umpires overturned what appeared to be a game-tying two-run home run by Yankees' Anthony Volpe. Following a video review, officials ruled that a spectator had interfered with the ball's trajectory, resulting in Volpe being credited with an RBI double instead.

The Yankees' elimination marks a significant disappointment for the franchise, which has not won a championship in 17 seasons. Following the loss, Yankees captain Aaron Judge expressed frustration with the team's management, calling for more aggressive moves to end the championship drought. The Rays, operating with one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball, will now face either the Cleveland Guardians or the Chicago White Sox in the next round.