The New York Yankees leaned on a textbook formula Friday night—dominant starting pitching, airtight defense, and just enough timely hitting—to pull out a tense 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at the Yankees’ Spring Training home in Tampa, now doubling as the Rays’ temporary regular-season ballpark for 2025.
Carlos Rodón led the charge with six overpowering innings, while the bullpen and defense backed him up in full force. Paul Goldschmidt had a standout night at the plate, and Trent Grisham delivered the game’s only RBI in the second inning.
From leaping grabs to perfect relays and heads-up rundowns, the Yankees flashed brilliance all over the field—turning a tight game into a showcase of execution and grit as they extended their win streak to five games.
Charles Carlos in Charge
Carlos Rodón gave the Yankees an absolutely dominant six-inning outing. The left-hander struck out nine Rays while allowing just two hits and four walks, keeping Tampa Bay hitters guessing with sharp command and late movement on his fastball-slider combo.
Rodón escaped a couple of tense moments with poise, including a bases-loaded threat in the fourth, where he struck out Josh Lowe on a nasty breaking ball to preserve the scoreless tie. This outing secured his second win of the season.
The Dón Dominated. @Carlos_Rodon55 👏 pic.twitter.com/gjni8OlMGI
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 19, 2025
Bullpen Slams the Door
Following Rodón’s departure, the Yankees bullpen was airtight, with all three relievers contributing two strikeouts each. Mark Leiter Jr. worked a clean seventh, Fernando Cruz handled the eighth, and Luke Weaver closed things out with a composed ninth inning to collect his second save of the season.
In total, the Yankees’ staff combined for 15 strikeouts and surrendered just three hits—shutting down a dangerous Rays lineup on their (but really the Yankees’) home turf.
Goldschmidt, Grisham Lead the Offense
Offensively, Paul Goldschmidt carried the Yankees. The veteran first baseman went 3-for-4 and scored the only run of the game. In the top of the second, after singling to lead off the inning, Goldschmidt advanced into scoring position and was promptly driven in by Trent Grisham, who laced an RBI single to center field.
That base hit would hold as the difference-maker in a tightly contested pitchers’ duel. Goldschmidt has now reached base in 15 of 20 games this season and has recorded a hit in 14 of those, providing much-needed consistency no matter his placement in the Yankees lineup.
Rice Nearly Goes Deep, Caballero Says No Way, Jose!
The Yankees nearly added insurance in the eighth when Ben Rice crushed a fastball deep to right field. Off the bat, it looked destined for the seats, but Rays outfielder Jose Caballero had other plans. Caballero timed his leap perfectly, reaching above the top of the wall to rob Rice of what would have been a two-run homer.
No way, José! pic.twitter.com/AZoVgZGBjH
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 19, 2025
Yankees’ Defense Locks It Down
While Carlos Rodón and the bullpen carved up the Rays on the mound, it was the Yankees’ defense that truly stole the show—flashing leather and heads-up instincts in every inning.
The tone was set early in the bottom of the second, when Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe turned a smooth 4-6-3 double play on a hard grounder from Jake Mangum. Chisholm made a clean flip from second base, and Volpe’s quick turn and strong throw to Paul Goldschmidt completed the clutch inning-ender.
In the fourth, Volpe delivered one of his most jaw-dropping moments of the night. With Richie Palacios barreling down the line on a slow roller to left-center, Volpe charged into shallow left, fielded the ball on the run, and fired an off-balance bullet to first to record the out—preserving Rodón’s shutout and bringing the Yankees dugout to its feet.
A sparkler from Volpe to Goldy 👏 pic.twitter.com/xDySSkDfN5
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 19, 2025
The defensive brilliance didn’t stop there. In the fifth, Goldschmidt—no stranger to highlight plays with four Gold Gloves to his name—flashed his veteran instincts by catching Jose Caballero in a rundown between third and home. Goldschmidt initiated and executed the pickle perfectly, eliminating a key scoring threat from the Rays.
Two innings later, the Yankees struck again with precision. Jonathan Aranda ripped a double to center field, but Trent Grisham played it perfectly off the wall and fired it in to Volpe, who was in ideal position as the cutoff man. Volpe then zipped a throw across the diamond to Oswaldo Cabrera at third, nabbing Aranda as he tried to stretch it into a triple.
This relay 🤯#RepBX pic.twitter.com/nFN4KjADON
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 19, 2025
Volpe also leapt to rob a liner in the fifth inning, adding to a night filled with defensive wizardry. Top to bottom, the Yankees were airtight in the field—turning potential Rays rallies into momentum-killing outs and making their slim one-run lead stand tall.
Looking Ahead
With the series win in sight, the Yankees turn to Carlos Carrasco in Game 3 as they look to keep their momentum rolling. The Rays counter with Shane Baz in what promises to be another tight contest between AL East foes.
