Rays eliminate Yankees as replay overturns Volpe home run in ALDS finale

Tampa Bay eliminated the New York Yankees from the American League Division Series with a 4-3 victory at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep. According to Field Level Media, rookie Victor Mesa Jr. supplied the decisive two-run homer in the sixth inning, sending the Rays into the AL Championship Series.

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The Yankees appeared to draw level in the bottom of that inning when Anthony Volpe hit a drive to left with George Lombard Jr. on base and two outs. The Associated Press reported that the play was initially ruled a two-run home run, but a spectator reached over the wall as Mesa attempted a leaping catch. Replay review changed the decision.

Volpe was awarded a run-scoring double instead, bringing Lombard home and leaving New York behind 4-3. In its explanation, MLB's Replay Center said the spectator had touched the ball above the playing field. Officials determined that the ball would neither have cleared the fence nor been caught, so they placed Volpe at second rather than awarding a homer or recording an out.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone accepted the ruling after seeing the replay, according to AP. Mesa believed he might have reached the ball, while Rays manager Kevin Cash expressed uncertainty about whether a catch was possible. Play was briefly delayed when spectators threw debris onto the field. Griffin Jax then struck out Spencer Jones to end the inning.

Mesa's earlier home run had followed a Junior Caminero single against Max Fried. Field Level Media reported that Jonathan Aranda also contributed an RBI single and Ryan Vilade hit a solo homer for Tampa Bay. New York's other runs came through a Ben Rice single and a Jones double before the disputed sixth-inning play.

Tampa Bay finished the job through its bullpen. Kevin Kelly struck out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton to end the eighth, and Bryan Baker stranded a runner in the ninth for his third save of the series, Field Level Media reported. The Rays advance to face either the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians in the AL Championship Series.