Yankees’ season ends in disappointment again as Rays sweep ALDS

· New York Post

The 2026 Yankees’ season came to an end much like 2025 — with a loss in the second round of the playoffs against a division rival.

The Rays beat the Yankees 4-3 in Game 3 of the ALDS to sweep the series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) rounds the bases on what was ruled an RBI double after a review for fan interference overturned a home run during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. Robert Sabo for New York Post

The end mirrors last year, when the Yankees beat the Red Sox in the wild-card round and fell to the Blue Jays in the ALDS. The Yankees again beat the Red Sox in the first round but could not get past a division champion foe in the next series.

Max Fried went six innings, surrendering four runs — and two homers — and seven hits with seven strikeouts. The crusher came in the top of the sixth when Victor Mesa Jr. crushed a two-run homer 401 feet to right field to put the Rays up by two runs.

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Victor Mesa Jr. (25) reaches to catch an RBI double from New York Yankees Anthony Volpe as fans reach out for the ball in the sixth inning. John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

And it was Mesa who was in the middle of Game 3’s controversy when Anthony Volpe’s deep fly ball to left in the bottom half of the sixth looked like a game-tying blast — at first. As Mesa leapt at the wall, though, a fan reached over the fence and touched the ball. Upon review, the umpires ruled the fan had gotten in the way, and Volpe was awarded an RBI double. He was stranded on base, with the Yankees trailing.

In the bottom of the eighth, with the Yankees still trailing by a run with a runner on base and two outs, manager Aaron Boone sent up Giancarlo Stanton as a pinch hitter for Austin Wells. But the Rays countered with right-hander Kevin Kelly, who struck Stanton out on five pitches.

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) reacts after giving up a single to Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Bryan Baker, dominant all season, was shaky in the ninth (particularly with his changeup), but closed out the Yankees in the ninth to seal the deal.