Rays Race Past Error-Prone Yankees to Seize 2-0 ALDS Lead

The Tampa Bay Rays are one win from the ALCS. Behind a four-run fifth inning and some ugly Yankees defense, the Rays beat New York 5-2 on Monday in St. Petersburg to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series.

Richie Palacios ripped the key hit — a two-run single that turned a 1-1 game into a rout — as Tampa Bay capitalized on four Yankees errors, including three in the first inning. Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero each had two hits and a run for the Rays, while Cam Booser earned the win in relief and Bryan Baker closed out a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the series.

New York's lone bright spot was Ben Rice, whose two solo homers gave him two multi-homer games this postseason. But the Yankees did themselves no favors, and now face elimination as the series shifts to New York for Game 3 on Wednesday. The Rays are firmly in control of the best-of-five.