Breaking Down Rasmussen’s 1-Hit Gem: the Pitches That Silenced New York
Kevin Cash did not hesitate. Despite the electric atmosphere and the magnitude of Rasmussen’s start, modern postseason pitching dictates strict leverage management. Rasmussen exited to loud applause from traveling Rays fans, having yielded only one walk and one hit across 7.1 masterful frames.
Pete Fairbanks entered from the bullpen to face the top of the Yankee order with the tying run in the on-deck circle. Fairbanks attacked aggressively, pumping 99-mph heaters past Torres before striking out Soto on an elevated four-seamer to end the eighth inning threat. In the ninth, Fairbanks returned to retire Judge and Stanton on routine fly balls, finalizing the 3-0 shutout.
The bullpen used only two pitchers to secure 27 outs. In an October setting where bullpens routinely chew through four or five arms per game, Tampa Bay walked away with a series lead and a completely rested relief corps.
