The Tampa Bay Rays rode a star pitcher to yet another victory on Tuesday night. Tampa Bay clinched the American League East with a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader. Drew Rasmussen lost a no-hit bid in the seventh, but the two-time All-Star unlocked another historic feat.
OptaStats noted that the Rays have now won all 12 of Rasmussen's second-half starts. No American League team has ever won as many consecutive games behind the same starting pitcher after the All-Star break. The Rays are now 21-9 in Rasmussen's starts this season, last losing to the Yankees on July 9.
The 31-year-old is 9-0 with a 1.86 ERA after the All-Star break, lowering his season ERA to 2.67 in a career-high 172 innings. He ranks third in fWAR among all AL pitchers behind division cohorts Cam Schlittler and Dylan Cease. Tampa Bay secured its first division title in five years behind another dominant outing from Rasmussen, who struck out 11 at Yankee Stadium.
Heliot Ramos broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff double in the seventh, but the righty still netted his 18th quality start and 16th win of the season. The Rays, who have an MLB-best 55 wins at home, locked up the AL's No. 1 seed by winning the division. They'll get a first-round bye before playing the Yankees or Boston Red Sox in the ALDS.
"We're excited to celebrate," Rasmussen told Lauren Shehadi after the game. "We know it's not the finish line, but it's been a long, hard year. We fought every single day, so to be where we're at, we're really happy."
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