The Tampa Bay Rays clinched the American League East title on Wednesday night, beating the New York Yankees 6-1 at Yankee Stadium to lock up the division with five games still left on the schedule — the earliest a Rays team has ever clinched the AL East.

Right-hander Drew Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, striking out 11 Yankees before New York finally broke through. Yandy Diaz drove in four runs with a pair of two-run singles as Tampa Bay pulled away in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader.

A Stunning Reversal

The Rays entered the day at 96-61, six games clear of the Yankees' 90-67 mark, and the win completed what Yahoo Sports called a stunning reversal from 2025, when the club finished a disappointing 77-85. Clinching the division also locks up the American League's No. 1 overall seed, giving Tampa Bay a first-round bye straight into the best-of-five AL Division Series, set to open October 3 at Tropicana Field.

THE EARLIEST DIVISION CLINCH IN FRANCHISE HISTORY.

The Yankees, meanwhile, are now ticketed for the wild-card round against division rival Boston as both AL East clubs turn their attention to October — New York answered back against Tampa Bay in a separate account of the series finale, powered by a two-homer night from Ben Rice, even with the division already decided.

With the AL East locked up, the Rays can now rest regulars and set their postseason rotation over the final five games, while jockeying among AL Central and West contenders continues for the league's remaining playoff spots.