The Yankees shut out the Tampa Bay Rays, 2-0, in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Carlos Rodon was at his absolute best on Tuesday afternoon, limiting the Rays to just three hits (all singles) and striking out eight in eight scoreless innings.

It was the longest outing by the left-hander this season and the first time he’s completed eight innings since July 11 of last year. In fact, since joining New York in 2023, Rodon has made it through eight frames just twice in 95 starts.

-- Rodon faced the minimum for the first 19 batters of the game thanks to two double plays turned behind him. The first twin-killing came in the second inning when Jose Caballero started a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning after a one-out single.

The second was a little more unconventional. With Richie Palacios at the plate, Victor Mesa Jr. broke on the 1-0 pitch which was lined into left field and caught by Cody Bellinger. Bellinger fired the ball to first base and Luis Garcia Jr. placed the tag on Mesa who was scrambling back which ended the inning.

-- Aside from that, Rodon faced one over the minimum and was completely dominant from start to finish. He lowered his season ERA to 2.67 and has been excellent in September (1.42 ERA in four starts).

-- Offensively, the Yanks had trouble with Rays starter Nick Martinez who was perfect the first time through the lineup. However, things changed in the fourth when Ben Rice led off with a double. On the next pitch, Bellinger blasted one 382 feet to right field for a two-run homer to get New York on the board.

George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones added back-to-back, two-out singles later in the frame, but were stranded after Anthony Volpe struck out to end the inning.

-- New York had another chance in the fifth inning after a bunt single by Caballero, followed by two steals, and a walk to Rice put runners at the corners, but Martinez got Bellinger to pop out and Heliot Ramos to fly out to end the threat.

-- The Yanks wouldn’t get another baserunner after that, but it didn’t matter as Rodon kept the Rays off the board for eight innings before closer David Bednar came in for the save.

-- With a win in the first game of their doubleheader against their AL-East leading rivals, the Yanks are now 5.0 games back of Tampa Bay and at the very least delayed the Rays from clinching the division for a little while longer.

Game MVP: Carlos Rodon

It was perhaps Rodon's best outing of his career and came at a nice time.

Here are the takeaways...

Game MVP: Carlos Rodon

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