Drew Rasmussen lost the no-hitter - but Austin Wells momentarily lost his mind.
The New York Yankees catcher finally broke up the Rays ace's no-hitter with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, shooting a double down the right field line. Yet Wells got a little too big, and as the ball reached the right field corner, he dug for third base.
Bad idea: A perfect relay from Victor Mesa Jr. to shortstop Taylor Walls to third baseman Junior Caminero easily cut him down at third base. And the Rays will carry at least a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning of ALDS Game 1.
Third base coach Luis Rojas threw up a stop sign long before Wells approached second base, but the catcher did not pick it up. A flawless relay cut Wells down easily, ending the only chance
the Yankees would have had with a runner in scoring position.
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton would have pinch-hit for Ryan McMahon, as he did to lead off the ninth inning.
Mesa protect this house #ForTampaBay | #Postseason pic.twitter.com/v7surKX3lV
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 4, 2026
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Wells breaks up Drew Rasmussen no-hitter but baserunning blunder costs Yankees
