Max Fried dominates as Yankees blank Rays 4-0

Field Level Media|published: Sun 20th April, 16:42 2025

Apr 20, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Max Fried dominated into the eighth inning, Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger and Austin Wells each hit home runs, and the visiting New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 on Sunday.

Fried (4-0) did not allow a hit through five-plus innings and exited after giving up two hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. He appeared to have a no-hitter into the eighth inning before a previous scoring play was changed late in the game.

Fernando Cruz recorded the final four outs for his second save.

Anthony Volpe doubled among his two hits for New York, which took three of four in the series at the Yankees' spring training home of George M. Steinbrenner Field, and Rays home venue this season.

Grisham gave the Yankees an early lead against Ryan Pepiot (1-3) by hitting the third pitch of the game over the right-field fence. The 368-foot homer was Grisham's sixth this season.

New York pushed another run across in the third inning. Oswaldo Cabrera hit a leadoff double, Aaron Judge delivered a one-out single, and Cabrera scored when Cody Bellinger grounded into a force out.

Bellinger began the sixth inning by depositing Pepiot's 1-2 fastball over the right-center field fence. The 386-foot shot was Bellinger's second homer this season.

Pepiot allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out seven.

The Rays were held hitless before they were retroactively ruled to have recorded their first hit with one out in the sixth inning.

Chandler Simpson reached base on a ground ball to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and the play was originally ruled as an error by official scorer Bill Mathews before it was changed to a single at the start of the eighth inning.

Jake Mangum added a leadoff single in the eighth, and Fried was replaced by Cruz with two outs. Yandy Diaz walked before Junior Caminero popped out.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected in the eighth inning after arguing a called strike three on Judge. Boone was also frustrated after a potential Judge home run was ruled a foul ball earlier in the at-bat.

The Yankees added an insurance run in the ninth on Wells' solo homer against Garrett Cleavinger. The one-out shot was Wells' fourth homer of the season.

--Field Level Media

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