New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays: July 29, 2025 AL East Battle

Tuesday, July 29th, 2025

Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer, and Anthony Volpe also went deep as the New York Yankees erased an early deficit in a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. This crucial win helped the Yankees pull within four games of first-place Toronto in the AL East, a significant improvement after falling 6 1/2 games back just last weekend.

Max Fried's Resilient Performance

Max Fried recovered from a rough start to deliver a strong outing, throwing a career-high 111 pitches over 6 2/3 innings. Despite a challenging beginning, Fried (12-4) allowed four runs — only two of which were earned — on four hits. His pitch count surpassed his previous career high of 110 pitches, set in September 2022 while with Atlanta.

On a sweltering 92-degree night, Fried initially struggled, giving up a two-run triple to Jonny DeLuca in the first inning. This came just three batters after an early throwing error by Volpe on a forceout attempt at second base. Jonathan Aranda then homered leading off the third inning, extending Tampa Bay's lead to 3-0. However, Fried quickly found his rhythm, retiring his next 14 hitters in impressive fashion.

Yankees Offense Ignites Comeback

The Yankees' offense sparked their comeback in the bottom of the third when Cody Bellinger's powerful drive off Rays starter Joe Boyle (1-1) tied the game. Anthony Volpe then put New York ahead with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Following his single, Volpe showcased his speed by stealing third base and subsequently scoring on a throwing error by new Rays catcher Nick Fortes. Paul Goldschmidt further padded the Yankees' lead with a run-scoring single, making the score 6-3.

Rays' Late Rally Attempt

Max Fried's night concluded after he yielded an RBI double to Taylor Walls in the seventh inning. The Rays continued to press, even gaining an unexpected opportunity in the ninth. Anthony Volpe committed his second throwing error of the game at shortstop, a play that should have ended the contest. This error gave Tampa Bay another chance, but Devin Williams stepped up, striking out All-Star Jonathan Aranda with runners on second and third to secure his 17th save of the season for the Yankees.

Key Game Moments

Yankees reliever Jonathan Loáisiga played a critical role, retiring Yandy Díaz to end the seventh inning. In the eighth, despite giving up consecutive hits, Volpe initiated a crucial double play on Christopher Morel's grounder, showcasing both his defensive struggles and clutch playmaking ability.

Notable Player Statistics

Cody Bellinger's home run marked the fifth time in his career he has reached the 20-homer plateau. Anthony Volpe hit his fifth homer in 11 games, demonstrating his recent power surge, although he continues to lead the majors with 15 errors. For the Tampa Bay Rays, their loss drops them to an 8-19 record in their last 27 games, a significant downturn following a strong 25-9 stretch earlier in the season.

What's Next for the Series

The series continues on Wednesday night. Yankees rookie Will Warren (6-5, 4.82 ERA) is slated to take the mound, facing off against Rays right-hander Zack Littell (8-8, 3.72 ERA).

In summary

The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5, fueled by a three-run homer from Cody Bellinger and a pivotal performance from Anthony Volpe, who contributed offensively with a homer and RBI single despite committing two errors. Max Fried delivered a resilient 6 2/3 inning start, overcoming early struggles. The win significantly tightens the AL East race for the Yankees. The Rays' late rally was thwarted by Devin Williams' save, highlighting their recent struggles. The series will continue with a pitching matchup between Will Warren and Zack Littell.

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