Sports

Yankees Lose ALDS Game 3, Extending World Series Drought to 17 Seasons

By Bryan Hoch

The New York Yankees were eliminated from the postseason when they fell 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday night. The loss ended the Yankees’ season and extended their World Series drought to 17 seasons, the longest in the franchise’s history. The Yankees had won 93 games in the regular season and swept the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series, but they were swept in a best‑of‑five series for the second time in franchise history, the first being the 1980 AL Championship Series. In the game, Max Fried gave up a go‑ahead home run to Victor Mesa Jr. on his final pitch, a hanging sweeper that landed in the right‑center‑field seats. The Yankees had taken a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning on a play that initially appeared to be a game‑tying home run by Anthony Volpe over Mesa’s head. A review determined spectator interference, and George Lombard Jr. was awarded home plate while Volpe was credited with a double. The Yankees’ rally was halted when Spencer Jones struck out to end the inning. The Rays celebrated their advance to the ALCS in the visitors’ clubhouse, while the Yankees’ players reflected on the disappointment. "It’s a tough pill," rookie outfielder Spencer Jones said. "I think at the end of the year, it’s always tough. For so many days, you show up to work the next day. I think for a lot of people it’s going to hit tomorrow." The Yankees had erased early deficits during the game, with Ben Rice and Spencer Jones providing key hits, but they could not overcome the Rays’ aggressive base running and defensive pressure. The Yankees will spend the rest of October as observers, with the 2009 World Series parade in the Canyon of Heroes fading further into memory.