McMahon’s Clutch Bat Boosts Yankees Over Rays

The New York Yankees are gaining momentum just in time for the trade deadline, following three trades in five days and a walk-off performance by newly acquired Ryan McMahon.

McMahon, who joined the Yankees from the Colorado Rockies on Friday, capped off Wednesday’s 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Tampa Bay Rays with a game-ending single. The hit delivered New York its second straight win and set the stage for a potential series sweep on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

The third baseman has wasted no time making an impact. Over five games with the Yankees, McMahon is hitting .353 (6-for-17), continuing a hot streak that includes a .327 average, four home runs, and 13 RBIs over his last 14 games. On Sunday, he sparked a four-run inning with a two-run double off Zack Wheeler in a 4-3 win against the Phillies. Wednesday’s heroics came after the Yankees had tied the game three times before finally closing it out.

“Just a solid ballplayer,” said Cody Bellinger, reflecting on past matchups against McMahon during his time with the Dodgers. “I played against him a ton in the NL West, growing up in the Fall League together.”

Bellinger also contributed, hitting a game-tying triple in the 10th inning. He’s batting .348 over his last 33 games.

New York is now seeking its first three-game winning streak since a five-game stretch from July 6–11. That run ended after Bellinger homered three times in one game against the Cubs, but the Yankees followed with a slump, losing seven of ten. Now, they’ve won three of their last four.

Meanwhile, the Rays are trending in the opposite direction, losing six of their last seven games and falling below .500 for the first time since May 24. Despite recent trades—sending catcher Danny Jansen to the Brewers and Zack Littell to the Reds—Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to hold late-game leads.

“It’s tough to win ballgames here,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “But when you’ve got leads and you’re not able to hold them, it makes it that much more challenging.”

Brandon Lowe returned to the Rays lineup on Wednesday after missing nine games with tendinitis and delivered a 2-for-4 performance, including an RBI double. Josh Lowe added a two-run homer and Jonathan Aranda a sacrifice fly, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the Yankees.

New York will send Marcus Stroman (2-2, 6.09 ERA) to the mound for Thursday’s finale. Since returning from a two-month absence with left knee inflammation, the right-hander has gone 2-1 with a 4.01 ERA across five starts. His most recent outing, however, lasted just 3 2/3 innings as he allowed four runs in a 9-4 loss to Philadelphia.

Stroman holds a 6-9 record with a 4.43 ERA in 19 career starts versus the Rays.

Tampa Bay will counter with Ryan Pepiot (6-8, 3.42 ERA), who last pitched Saturday in Cincinnati. He delivered six innings of two-hit, unearned-run ball in a no-decision. Against the Yankees this season, Pepiot is 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA over two starts.

With the trade deadline now arrived, the Yankees are watching their new additions reshape the narrative in the Bronx, just in time to make a push.