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Mesa HR helps Rays continue seasonlong dominance of Yanks in sweep
Developing
In Short: Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. hit a crucial home run that effectively ended the New York Yankees' season Wednesday night, securing a 4-3 win and completing a sweep.
Mesa, who signed with the Marlins in 2019 and was traded to the Rays last February, showed his prowess by hitting a home run that he felt was so pure he didn't even feel the ball off the bat.
The Rays' victory affirmed their season-long dominance over the Yankees, with manager Kevin Cash praising his team's execution against a formidable lineup.
"The way our pitchers executed as they navigated through that lineup was really impressive," Cash said.
Mesa's home run came at a critical moment, as the Yankees had briefly tied the game but were thwarted by a fan interference call.
"That's the moment you want to live when you're growing up," Mesa said, reflecting on the significance of the home run.
The Rays' success is part of their organizational magic, turning fringe players into key contributors.
"He showed he's a really good player as soon as he got here," Rays shortstop Taylor Walls said.
Tampa Bay will now face the winner of the Cleveland Guardians-Chicago White Sox series in the AL Championship Series.
What this adds
The Rays' low payroll highlights their ability to develop talent.
What's still developing
- Mesa signed with the Marlins in 2019 and stalled in the Miami organization, playing 16 big league games before he was traded to Tampa Bay last February for infielder Angel Brachi.
- Fried's pitch count was over 70 and he was nearing the end of his night in the top of the sixth, when reliever Paul Blackburn started to warm up in the Yankees' bullpen.
- He just knew that he hit it a long, long way, and so rather than watch his work disappear deep into the right-field stands at Yankee Stadium, he immediately turned at home plate and looked toward the dugout to watch his teammates celebrate.
- But Mesa is just another Rays discovery, another example of how they acquired a fringe player and, with their organizational magic, helped foster more than expected.
- "They obviously had a great season." Cash said his team, which sports one of the lowest payrolls in the majors, isn't out to prove anything to anybody.
- "They beat us," conceded Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
- He started this season in the minor leagues, and what the Rays learned first-hand about Mesa, after he was called up to the big leagues at the end of May, was that he is steeped with confidence, loves to talk, and can flat out hit.
- And the left-handed hitter demonstrated a special ability to hit against left-handed pitchers: He batted.333 against lefties during the regular season, almost 100 points higher than what he hit against right-handers.