It began on the field after the final out, as he did a dramatic sweeping gesture. He then was seen shouting "the Yankees lose!" − a phrase made famous by his countryman David Ortiz − while doing Stephen Curry's "night night" celebration.
But the real partying began in the locker room.
"Sweep! The Yankees lose!" Caminero shouted during an interview.
He gave high praise to Rays pitchers Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez and Bryan Baker, declaring them the best pitchers in the league. Asked what he was best at in the league, Caminero replied "I'm the best in the world."
Caminero hit 42 home runs in the regular season and had a strong ALDS for the top-seeded Rays. Tampa Bay will now await the winner of the White Sox-Guardians series in the ALCS.
Just like the rest of the Yankees in this series, Max Fried wasn’t good enough.
Pitching in an elimination game for the second time in his career, the lefty at times looked dominant but allowed runs in three of his last four innings in Wednesday’s season-ending 4-3 loss to the Rays in The Bronx in Game 3 of the ALDS.
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The big blow was a two-run shot by Victor Mesa Jr. to give Tampa Bay the lead in the sixth inning.
“It’s just as simple as: I threw a bad pitch,’’ Fried said. “I left it up. The guy hit a home run, just two more runs. Kind of put it out of reach. It really sucks because we played a good game. We played a really sound game and did enough to win. And unfortunately I didn’t do enough to be able to kind of hold up my end of the bargain.”
The Yankees said prior to the game that there wasn’t really a debate about whether to go with Fried or fellow southpaw Carlos Rodón, with pitching coach Matt Blake saying Tuesday, “Max has been one of our guys and we want to ride him here.”
Max Fried reacts after giving up a single to Junior Caminero in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 season-ending loss to the Rays in Game 3 of their ALDS series on Oct. 7, 2026 in The Bronx. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostMax Fried walks back to the team dugout after being taken out of the game in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ season-ending loss to the Rays. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
It was an understandable decision, even as Rodón was perhaps the rotation’s best pitcher down the stretch outside of AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler.
Rodón said he supported whatever decision the Yankees made, but seemed bewildered about not having pitched at all in the playoffs after throwing so well down the stretch.
And now the Yankees head into the offseason with Rodón not having been a factor in the postseason.
Carlos Rodón greets his teammates during lineup announcements before the start of the Yankees’ season-ending loss to the Rays in Game 3 of their ALDS series. Robert Sabo for New York Post
The real issue the Yankees had against their AL East rivals, who they couldn’t catch in the division and proved to be no match for in the playoffs, was their offense.
Fried, just like Gerrit Cole and Schlittler — who started the first two games of the series, respectively — was forced to be nearly perfect.
And he wasn’t.
It was not the ace-like outing the Yankees were looking for from the left-hander after he’d been fully built up following a 2 ½-week absence in August due to inflammation in his left elbow related to the bone bruise he had in the area earlier in the season.
Asked about the elbow, Fried said, “It doesn’t matter. Everyone’s not feeling good. You take the ball, you go out there, and no one remembers if you feel good, if you felt 100 percent, but it doesn’t matter.”
He added he didn’t think he’d need surgery on the elbow as he headed into the offseason.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: Tyler Mahle #54 of the Atlanta Braves reacts against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well the Braves’ season is over, despite Tyler Mahle’s and Michael Harris’ best efforts. Now we move into the offseason that holds ample uncertainty for the sport and for the team. A lockout is essentially inevitable at this point and the owners seem geared up to instigate the most contentious set of CBA negotiations in decades as they push for a salary cap. The status of next season is very much in question. Meanwhile, this Braves team may be undergoing coaching changes and has significant player needs. If you thought a starting pitcher was a must last year, its much more of a necessity this year, though hopefully the return of Tyler Mahle can mitigate that issue. The team is also in need of an injection of talent on offense, as the offense has really struggled since a historically productive 2023, followed by an incredibly unlucky 2024 and the subsequent firing of Kevin Seitzer.
Braves News
Tyler Mahle put together another stellar performance, but the offense no-showed again, as the Braves bowed out in the NLDS.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first quarter during the preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves played a special game against the Indiana Pacers at the Hilton Coliseum on the Iowa State campus as former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton got his first game action in over 600 days. He addressed the crowd before tip-off, leaving a buzz circulating through the arena. Many were excited to see Hali’s first action at his alma mater, but just a three-hour and 15-minute drive north will bring you to Minneapolis and the Target Center. Timberwolves jerseys littered throughout the crowd to see Ball and Edwards put on a show. They did not disappoint.
Breaking Down the Starters
Minnesota ultimately lost the matchup 123-11, but there was plenty to take away from a second game of these new-look Wolves as the starters played the entire first half and nearly half of the third quarter.
The Wolves jumped out to a quick 10-point lead early in the contest through smooth ball movement and exceptional defense from both McDaniels and Gobert, but quickly realized that this Pacers team is no Milwaukee Bucks, especially with the return of their star floor general in Haliburton.
Things got ugly fast, though, as Minnesota went into the half with 13 turnovers, leading to some quick, easy looks for Indiana. The Pacers lit up the scoreboard early as well, shooting 62% from the field and 50% from three after the first quarter.
Sloppy rotations, lack of urgency to close out, and general confusion smothered the Wolves’ defense against a much smoother Pacers team. However, Minnesota was able to reel the troops in and grab 18 points off turnovers from Indiana to close the half.
All while that was happening on the defensive end of the floor, LaMelo Ball was showing what he brings to this Minnesota team on the offensive end. He finished his evening with seven assists, all in the first half, 14 points on 5-9 from the field, and 4-6 from three. That includes one cold-blooded three to tie the bow on quarter one. What Ball was able to do on the floor, manipulating defenders, was on display, especially for his running mates, Anthony Edwards (19 PTS, 5-10 from the field, 4-5 on threes) and Jaden McDaniels (16 PTS, 6-10 and 4-6 from the same distances).
Edwards found himself with more space to shoot than he had at any point last season. He started off the game deferring to his teammates, which allowed Ball to get his game going before a detonation happened in the second quarter from the three-point line. One of those shots was an electric back-and-forth between Ball and Edwards.
Not many shots felt forced from Edwards, who seemed to play at his own pace rather than trying to make something happen. That will be huge for the superstar, who was so often overtasked and can now expend more energy on the defensive side of the floor.
McDaniels had a signature quietly efficient game. Sprinkle in a couple of easy looks courtesy of Ball, and it’s starting to feel like McDaniels may put up his most efficient offensive year yet, as hard as that is to believe. The offensive barrage Minnesota laid on Indiana in the second quarter propelled them to a four-point lead at half.
Out of all the starters, it was apparent that Jonathan Kuminga is still figuring out his role in the offense and even on defense. The Wolves’ abysmal first quarter defensively was due in part to confusion on defensive rotations leading to wide open looks. A handful of contested looks and poor shot selection led to a two point night and 1-for-9 from the field. He was provided a couple of open looks from three-point range, but ended up missing all three attempts.
There weren’t as many impressive flashes as Monday’s game in Milwaukee, but there is still plenty of intrigue that Kuminga will be an effective player for this team at the power forward position.
Who Stood Out?
With the preseason being a time to get a look at some of the young talent, tons of eyes were following Joan Beringer, who was looking to build on an impressive performance in Milwaukee. He was able to match up against one of the league’s best bigs in Ivica Zubac.
Just like many young players in their sophomore season, it was up and down for Beringer, who went to the bench after his first stint with a -11 plus-minus. He was able to grab eight rebounds, but he is one of the most raw prospects in the league right now. You can see the development happening on the floor with each minute, but you also realize there is still so much work to do with his game.
As preseason games go, it comes down to the guys who are fighting for the final spots on the roster. When the Wolves made the deal to trade established veteran Josh Green for former 10th overall pick Cody Williams and journeyman John Konchar (who they later cut), eyebrows were raised.
His first two years in the NBA have been rocky, to say the least, but he’s far from a lost cause. He’s gone from sub-40% from inside the three-point arc to making a huge leap to 56% from two in year two. Although he only shot 2-for-7 from the field tonight, he showed characteristics that may give him the chance to stick in the league.
Anthony Edwards gushed about his defensive potential, which showed on Wednesday through tipped passes, physical defense, and shot contesting.
His offense was also impressive. Nearly all of his passes were led with anticipation and rarely put the ball in danger of a turnover. He only finished with one assist, but could’ve easily had three, producing wide-open looks for Bones Hyland. A Beringer block would lead to a Williams fast break, who proceeded to posterize Quenton Jackson with a two-hand slam.
CODY WILLIAMS PUT QUENTON JACKSON ON A POSTER, THEN JACKSON PUSHED HIM IN THE FACE FOR A TECHNICAL! 😳🍿 pic.twitter.com/y7gnJaRwGd
It’s not likely Williams sees a consistent role for this specific Wolves team, but there are some real NBA tools he has in his bag, and I will be intrigued by his development this season.
So far, after two games, this team has been pleasant on the eye. Edwards seems to be reaping the benefits of having a de facto ball handler. We don’t know how much more the starters will play as four preseason games remain.
Game highlights
Up next
The Wolves fly down to South Beach to visit the Giannis-led Miami Heat on Saturday, 10/10 at 7:00pm CT. The game will be on DAZN-MIN.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks to pass the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Forgive me for the early preview, but since this matchup between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks is tipping off at 7am CT, I figured it would be best to get this out there the day before.
The game is starting at an ungodly hour for Central Time denizens because it’s taking place in Macau, China, at Venetian Arena. A quick Wiki search says that it’s an arena with a capacity of 14,000 and has hosted several NBA preseason games, Celine Dion (twice), a Manny Pacquiao fight, BTS, and Hong Kong musician “Tari” Eason Chan. Okay fine he doesn’t go by Tari. But it was too neat of a coincidence.
This is a preseason game, so who knows how the teams will play it. Ime Udoka generally gives his rotation a decent number of minutes in preseason and the league will definitely want the stars to play in these international contests. Dusty May is coaching the Dallas Mavericks so there’s no data on how he’ll utilize his rotation. Again, I expect to see Kyrie Irving (back for the first time since March 2025) and Cooper Flagg get some real run just because the league doesn’t want these games to be played between guys who will be in the G-League and Europe when the actual season begins.
These teams will play each other again Sunday morning. That game starts two hours earlier than this one, which means you can start your morning with the Rockets, switch over the London NFL game, and then go straight into the early NFL window which features the 0-4 Houston Texans heading to Nashville to take on the 0-4 Tennessee Titans in a game the Weather Channel doesn’t even want to broadcast.
Tip-off
7am CT
How To Watch
NBA TV and Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
No one yet, but undoubtedly there will be some
Mavericks
Do you really care?
The Line (as of this post)
I can’t find one and honestly, if you really need this line, please get some help.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 22: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks gestures to teammates during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on March 22, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks (0-1) host the Wizards (0-0) tonight in their first return to the court at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza since sinking the Spurs in June. New York seeks to rebound from a 97-120 loss in Philadelphia, where the starters played around 15 minutes each and Mike Brown fielded 20 players. For the Wiz, it will be their inaugural preseason game and their first chance to see how Trae Young, Anthony Davis and the top draft pick AJ Dybantsa fare against the defending champs.
The last meeting between these two came March 22 at MSG. New York won 145-113. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson added 23. Jaden Hardy led Washington with 25 points, including seven threes. The Knicks’ second-half shooting (62%) buried a Wizards team that already had 15 straight losses.
Last season, Washington finished with a league-worst record of 17-65. Their defensive rating was dead last, and their offensive rating was close to it. They averaged 112.9 points and allowed 124.9. Cheer up, Wizards fans; we remember those days. The club has upgraded their talent pool with Young, Davis, and, of course, Dybantsa, but the supporting staff remains a work in progress.
Dybantsa, the number one pick out of BYU, joins the Wizards’ rebuild as a 6’9” scoring wing with elite athleticism, three-level scoring, and physicality. Davis has called him a special talent, and scouts see the 19-year-old as a new messiah for the D.C. gym, with potential to be a high-usage, two-way star. That’s a tough load for a youngster to carry. Alex Sarr (second pick, 2024) has been unable to lead the team out of the desert; neither has Tre Johnson (sixth pick, 2025). The club is rich with young talent, and eventually ownership might decide that Brian Keefe is not the coach to maximize it. Now where did I leave Thibodeau’s phone number. . . .
Projected Wizards starters: Young (PG), Kyshawn George (SG), Dybantsa (SF), Davis (PF), and Sarr (C). Off the bench, look for Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Khris Middleton, and Deandre Ayton (totally forgot he landed there).
New York’s starters looked sharp in limited minutes Monday before the bench lost the second half with simply atrocious shooting (finishing around 8-of-40 from deep). Mike Brown cited a lack of physicality across the board, so the ‘Zards should expect more chests and elbows. The third center position is still up for grabs, so you’ll see more of James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks off the bench.
For the Knicks: Jose Alvarado is day-to-day with a knee contusion. Wizards: Alex Sarr (foot) is a game-time decision; Tristan Vukcevic (hip) and Jamir Watkins (knee) are out.
The Knicks have won 12 straight regular-season games against the Wizards and 18 of the last 20 meetings. This scrimmage won’t count in the record books, but we predict the same result. Knicks by 10.
I’ll miss the game because of NYC Comic Con commitments, but will catch the rerun. Look for me in the crowd if you’re at Javits; I’ll be the good-looking one. On a personal note, today’s my 20th anniversary of sobriety. ODAT. If you think you can’t stop, drop me a line. And go Knicks.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (0-1) vs. Washington Wizards (0-0) Date: Friday, October 5, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
Trent Grisham hit leadoff with the idea of getting more base runners on in front of Ben Rice.
Instead, Yankees season ended with Grisham striking out for the third time of the night — with Rice in the on-deck circle — in a 4-3 loss to the Rays in Game 3 of the ALDS.
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With the Yankees fighting for survival, Grisham got the call to hit leadoff — despite being the worst leadoff hitter in the game this season.
He popped out in the first, struck out looking in the third, lined out to left in the fifth and whiffed looking again in the seventh, this time getting booed by the Stadium crowd.
The move to bat Grisham leadoff was made despite the fact that among the 16 players with at least 350 plate appearances at the top of the lineup in the majors, Grisham had the lowest batting average (.199) and OPS (.680).
But he also entered the game with considerable success against Wednesday’s starter for Tampa Bay, Nick Martinez.
Trent Grisham reacts after striking out looking during the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 season-ending loss to the Rays in Game 3 of the ALDS on Oct. 7, 2026 in The Bronx. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Heading into the game, Grisham was 4-for-6 with three doubles and two walks versus the right-hander.
And with Rice providing most of the Yankees offense in this series, Aaron Boone said he was looking to get people on base for his top hitter this postseason.
“Just trying to find somewhere we can get some on base, especially in front of [Rice], as well as he’s playing right now and maximize that as much as we can,’’ Boone said before Game 3. “I considered a lot of different avenues and settled on that.”
Trent Grisham strikes out swinging to end the game in the Yankees’ season-ending loss to the Rays. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Nothing — outside of Rice — worked in the first two games of the series after the Yankees finally got going in the wild-card series against the Red Sox.
Grisham mostly hit leadoff a year ago in the postseason, but his offense took a huge step back during the regular season — which led to the center fielder hitting seventh in his previous three starts during these playoffs.
With his Yankees future very much in doubt after this season — when he was playing on the qualifying offer following his 34-homer year in 2025 — the Yankees were willing to end their season with the lefty-swinging Grisham getting the most plate appearances in an elimination game.
He had been in the middle of a brutal slump when he missed most of the final month of the season with a strained right hamstring — his second of the year.
But the Yankees activated him for the playoffs, taking a chance Grisham would find his timing and rhythm in time to make an impact.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 7: Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bucks win! In their second preseason game, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a road W against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Myles Turner had a monster game for Milwaukee, scoring a team-high 19 points in 22 minutes. However, it was Brayden Burries who starred late, closing out the game in clutch fashion. Aday Mara led the Thunder with 22 points. AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Caris LeVert, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr. were all inactive for the Bucks.
The Bucks actually began the first quarter with a strong pace. Jaime Jaquez Jr. started with a couple of threes and scored eight points in the first few minutes. However, after jumping out to an 18-13 lead, the misses quickly stacked up for the Bucks as they continued their barrage from deep. After a Herro missed three, OKC answered with their own bomb to take the lead, and would not look back for the rest of the half. About midway through the first, we got to see both Kasparas Jakucionis and Ousmane Dieng check in for their first minutes of the preseason, and both got to work quickly; Dieng was able to dribble to his spot in the paint and hit a floater, and then on the next possession was able to find Jakucionis behind the arc for his first bucket in a Milwaukee jersey. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder were rolling, though, and closed the quarter up 44-35.
The Bucks then seemed to have one of those classic stretches where they could not buy a bucket, but this time it was not for lack of effort, but for lack of cohesion. While Milwaukee went cold, OKC swiftly built a 24-point edge, but instead of folding, the Bucks kept the energy high—even if it was chaotic. Dieng fed Ament on the backdoor cut for a yam, and Ament seemed particularly set on attacking the rim and having his presence felt in the paint. But then came bad news: Ament extended at the rim, landed awkwardly, and twisted his ankle while drawing the foul; he was promptly taken out of the game and did not return. Moving on, the Bucks closed out the half decently, with Herro finally getting on the scoreboard and Rollins hitting a sweet teardrop—Bucks down 82-64 at the half.
OKC, like Minnesota, rested all of their starters except Mara for the second half. The Bucks, meanwhile, kept their starters in a bit longer and began to turn the game because of it, outscoring the Thunder 33-20 in the third to cut the deficit to five at the end of the quarter. The Bucks began moving the ball more easily. As the third quarter carried on, the starting lineup was subbed out entirely except for Kel’el Ware, who feasted on the Thunder’s bench for the rest of his minutes. The Bucks were down just five, 102-97, after three.
The fourth quarter saw more Bucks get their first preseason minutes: Bogoljub Markovic, Kameron Jones, and Cormac Ryan all finally got some run; those three closed it out with Pete Nance and Brayden Burries. The game was tight throughout the final quarter, with Burries giving the Bucks their first lead of the game with about four minutes on the clock. After OKC reclaimed the lead, Burries drew a foul and tied it up with under two minutes left. Fellow first-round draft pick Bennet Stirtz took the lead back with a triple of his own, only for Burries to finish through double coverage at the rim and pull the Bucks within one. On the ensuing possession, after a made OKC free throw, Burries hammered home a dunk to tie the game and went on to dominate the final minutes of play with composure beyond his years. Bucks win!
Stat That Stood Out
31: the number of rebounds the Bucks secured in the first half while OKC were playing their starters. The Bucks rebounded the Thunder 31-24, a disparity that grew even larger on the offensive glass: 12-3. Very on-brand for a Taylor Jenkins’ team, the Bucks shot five more times than the Thunder in the first half.
Obscene Overreaction
The Milwaukee Bucks will be hanging their next banner in 2027… OK, maybe that is a little too obscene of an overreaction, but how about this one instead: Ousmane Dieng needs to start at power forward. He tied Ryan Rollins with a team-high seven assists and logged just one turnover, and it was clear from the jump that his court vision and awareness were locked in. The best versions of Turner and Ware will be unlocked with steady playmaking around them, as both had over 80% of their shots assisted last season. With Dieng able to switch and cover multiple positions on defense, he could be the glue guy Milwaukee is looking for.
Victor Mesa Jr. gave the Rays the lead for good with a two-run homer with two outs in the sixth off lefty Max Fried.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge, second baseman Anthony Volpe and shortstop George Lombard Jr look out onto the field after their season-ending Game 3 loss to the Rays in The Bronx. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
Zero
The Yankee lineup produced just five runs in the series, so while Fried was far from his best Wednesday, he was given no margin for error, since almost every bat other than Ben Rice’s went silent.
Unsung hero
The Rays bullpen gave up just one run in 5 ¹/₃ innings in relief of Nick Martinez, with five relievers mostly shutting down the Yankees.
Key stat
17: Years since the Yankees last won a World Series title.
Quote
“Fire Boone.”
— The Stadium crowd chanted its displeasure about manager Aaron Boone after the final out of the game.
The then-12-year-old Maier is famously known for aiding a Derek Jeter fly ball to right field by reaching over Tony Tarasco’s glove and helping the ball clear the wall for what was ruled a game-tying homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS on Oct. 9 at the old Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees went on to win the game 5-4, the series 4-1, and eventually the World Series.
History repeated itself, just in reverse, during the bottom of the sixth inning during Game 3 of the ALDS from The Bronx on Wednesday night as Anthony Volpe drilled a ball to left field.
The blast was initially ruled a game-tying home run, but it did not stand, as MLB has the benefit of replay in 2026.
Baltimore right fielder Tony Tarasco stretches for the ball in what turned out to be a homer for Derek Jeter despite Bombers fan Jeff Maier deflecting it during the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 5-4, 11-inning win over the Orioles in Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx. AP
A review showed the ball hit the outstretched hands of an adult fan in the field of play and rolled up his arms over the wall.
The call was changed to fan interference, resulting in a double that allowed George Lombard Jr. to score.
It pulled the Yankees within 4-3 of the Rays in the elimination game that the Bombers would go on to lose by the same score.
“After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official definitively determined the spectator interfered with the ball over the field of play,” MLB’s Replay Center said in a statement. “The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught. The call is OVERTURNED, there was spectator interference and no home run. Additionally, the Replay Official scored one run and placed the batter-runner at second.
After replay review, the Yankees pull within a run on Anthony Volpe's RBI double! pic.twitter.com/6Fua0LNVBQ
Fans were quick to make the connection between the two moments and had plenty of fun with it.
“Yankees really got Jeffrey Mayer 2.0 out here smh,” X user @Peterson_IsKing wrote.
Added @BuffaloAdam: “Almost 30 years to the day of the Jeffrey Maier game! (10/9/96). Guessing Tony Tarasco would have loved some replay that night. “
Victor Mesa Jr. makes an attempt on a ball in what became an RBI double by Anthony Volpe after umpires reviewed that it was interfered with by fans that umpires reviewed during the sixth inning of the Yankees’ season-ending loss. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
“DO NOT REVERSE THIS CALL,” @brianwaters chimed in. “[Jeffrey] Maier interference was waaaay worst.”
Others took some joy in the fact that the Yankees didn’t get the benefit of the play this time around, including the son of former Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., who was a member of that 1996 team.
At least this one went against the Yankees…” Ryan Ripken posted.
Jeffery Maier holding The Post’s back page in 1996.
Added Barasrtool Sport’s Barstools Jerry Thornton: The universe finally corrected itself after the gross injustice of Jeffrey Maier.”
“That fan went from Jeffrey Maier to Steve Bartman,” @Polar39e posted.
It will be a moment Yankees fans will not soon forget, just for all the wrong reasons.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 7: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 7, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the second straight preseason game, the Suns could not finish the job, falling 124-117 to the Bulls. They built a lead of as many as 15 points mid-second quarter, and had good defensive energy described by color commentator Rex Chapman as “it looks like the Suns are playing with eight players out there”. This intensity and focus did not sustain going into the locker room up just two. The final score involved a late crumbling by the back end of Phoenix’s roster, but this was mostly a tight game throughout the second half.
Free throw shooting was improved over game one at 76%. Turnovers tied directly to the loss, and tonight’s 26 were not much better than the last game. Some of this ties to all the rotation mixing and it being preseason, but I see it also as a loss of focus.
Some positives include Dillon Brooks playing with a somewhat controlled intensity (aka no technicals, at least) and being an efficient scorer, getting 24 points on only 9 shots. Is Jordan Goodwin the best ever “second stint with the Suns” player? The lineup with him, Maluach, and Dunn was stifling. Gillespie was solid all around.
Several concerns surface from this outing. The core rotation can play like a top 4 seed and then fall apart, same as preseason game one. There are no indications Bridges’ ankle injury is serious, but that will be something to monitor as the preseason continues. Book’s three-point shot was not falling, finishing 0-8 from the arc, and the team needs that to be a rarity when the games count.
Devin Booker shot 33% from 3 last season.
His percentage has dropped in each of the last two seasons.
Through two preseason games: 1-of-12 (0-for-8 tonight vs. Bulls). #Suns
Impressed…Ryan Dunn provided solid defense without much fouling until the closing minutes. He passed the eye test. Jamaree Bouyea scored 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Did not impress…Rasheer Fleming didn’t show the intensity needed to take his next steps, finishing 1-of-4 with three fouls and no steals or blocks. Khaman Maluach: While there were some highlight blocks, his overall strength in the paint both offensively and defensively was underwhelming. Keep in mind Chicago was missing their first- and second-string centers.
Game Flow
First Half
Phoenix opened with a slow start, down 10-3 in the first two minutes – including two turnovers and allowing two open threes (which Norm Powell and Jalen Smith converted). Multiple plays at the rim in the first few minutes had me thinking how Khaman Maluach may have made a difference with that.
Coach Jordan Ott successfully challenged an inbound pass, and Miles Bridges immediately converted an and-1 to close the gap to 13-17. Jalen Green showed a nicely paced mid-range and an alley-oop to Oso on back-to-back plays – things he worked on this summer.
We got to see Maluach with the starters at the 6:25 mark of Q1 down 3.
Dillon Brooks made his third three-pointer to give Phoenix a lead. Jordan Goodwin started doing Jordan Goodwin things, and then Ryan Dunn successfully forced an 8-second count for back-to-back turnovers forced, immediately followed by a Collin Gillespie three turned 4-point play with Man Man converting the free throw on an away-from-the-ball foul. A Collin three opened up a 14-point lead. 40-29 Purple Gang after Q1.
Bridges turned an ankle and came out at the 11:01 mark. He did not return. A very durable player – but so was Jalen Green before last year! Fingers crossed.
Oso Ighadaro converted an alley-oop from Kennard and two fast-break visits at the boom room in the preceding 90 seconds of game play. Overall, the Suns are looking sharp and playing with good intensity.
Caleb Wilson went on a mini run to cut the deficit to 9. Phoenix seemed to lose focus; Norman Powell (a focus of our preview article) made back-to-back threes, and the Bulls closed the half down only two, 66-62.
Second Half
Rasheer Fleming opened with the second-half starting unit in place of Bridges. Back-to-back Brooks baskets opened the half. Things got sloppy with the team, up to 15 turnovers at the midpoint of Q3.
While Brooks has kept his composure and toed the edge in terms of technicals, he was already up to 4 personal fouls and got a fifth pushing off on an inbound. He and Buddy Hield had to be separated at 4:55, and Dillon came out.
Huge block at the rim on rookie Noa Essengue by Maluach at 4:30.
A review reversed a foul on Gillespie and put him at the line (make that 2 for 2 on reviews).
More sloppy play and a Patrick Williams three put the Bulls up 3 to end the third.
Q4 opened with Jamaree Bouyea, Pat Spencer, Dunn, Fleming and Maluach – the first four of which are fighting for their place on the roster.
Spencer tied it up with a three at 5:25, then made a steal and took it the distance for a dunk and the lead at 4:42. Another game headed for crunch time. Tobe Awaka went for 14 and 11 in 21 minutes, and the Suns could not get it done.
Up Next
Spurs at Suns, Saturday, October 10, 7:30pm! We’ll see you then!
Another Yankees season ended in disappointment Wednesday night when the Tampa Bay Rays came to Yankee Stadium and finished off a sweep in the AL Division Series.
The Rays beat the Yanks, 4-3, in Game 3 of the best-of-five affair, meaning the Bronx Bombers are still without a World Series title since 2009, a drought that equals the 17 years without a title the club endured from 1979 through 1995.
The Yankees rallied from several deficits Wednesday and had seemingly tied the score in the sixth inning, though a flashback to 1996 did not go the Yankees’ way – fan interference made Anthony Volpe settle for an RBI double instead of a tying two-run homer.
The Rays’ celebration of their berth in the ALCS was their second party of the season at Yankee Stadium – they also clinched the AL East title in the Bronx.
Here are the main takeaways...
-- The Yankee offense was horrid throughout the series, with failure up and down the lineup. They had seven hits in Game 3, but that was more than half their total for the series. The Yanks went 12-for-89 (.135) and scored just five runs in three games. They had a .247 slugging percentage and a .436 OPS. Trent Grisham was 0-for-11. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was 0-for-8, Cody Bellinger was 1-for-12, Luis García Jr. was 1-for-10 and Spencer Jones was 1-for-9.
-- Manager Aaron Boone made some lineup changes for Game 3 hoping for a spark and he got one, at least from his move of inserting Anthony Volpe at second base in place of Chisholm. Volpe singled and scored in the fourth inning and then hit one of the most impactful balls of the night in the sixth. José Caballero, who started at third in place of Ryan McMahon, was 0-for-2. Boone also moved Grisham to the leadoff spot, but he fizzled, going 0-for-5.
-- In the ninth, the Yankees got the tying run into scoring position, to no avail. Rays closer Bryan Baker struck out Volpe leading off but then walked Jones on four pitches. Baker then got Chisholm, who had entered two innings earlier as a pinch-hitter, to ground into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Chisholm stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Baker struck out Grisham to end the game and the Yankee season.
-- Twice before in best-of-five division series play, the Yankees had lost the first two games and rallied to win the series. The first time it happened was in 2001 against Oakland, the series in which Derek Jeter made the Flip Play, and the other was in 2017 against Cleveland. But it was not to be this time.
-- With two outs in the sixth, a runner on first and the Yanks down by two, Volpe lofted a ball toward the stands in left field that kept carrying. Fans reached for the ball as Victor Mesa Jr. leapt for it and the play was originally ruled a home run, which would have tied the score. But a lengthy crew chief review determined that there was spectator interference – fans’ hands clearly grabbed for the ball in the field of play. It was reminiscent of ‘96 and the Jeffrey Maier incident, though that one worked out better for the Yanks. Volpe was placed at second and umps ruled that George Lombard Jr. would have scored from first base. Rays manager Kevin Cash came out to argue, but the Rays' lead was trimmed to 4-3.
-- The Rays snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning by scoring with two outs and knocking out Yankee starter Max Fried. First, Junior Caminero hit a single up the middle. Then Mesa, a lefty hitter who enjoyed so much success against lefties this year in a limited sample (.333 in 60 at-bats) that he was moved up to cleanup against Fried, smacked a 401-foot home run to right-center. The blast gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead.
-- Fried threw 5.2 innings and allowed four runs and seven hits while striking out seven and walking none. He was fine, but never seemed to be able to stop the Rays and gave up home runs to Ryan Vilade and Mesa. In 26 postseason games (16 starts) in his career, Fried has a 5.11 ERA.
-- The Rays broke through against Fried in the third for a 1-0 lead and it could’ve been worse if they had not gambled on the bases. With two outs and runners on first and second, Jonathan Aranda smacked a single to right field. Jonny DeLuca scored and Aranda got hung up between first and second when Jones’ throw home was cut off. Taylor Walls, who had raced to third on the hit, broke for home and was erased in a rundown, 9-3-6-2. The Rays, clearly trying to force the Yankees to make a play, might have built a bigger inning if they had been more cautious. Before Aranda’s hit, the Rays had been 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position in the series.
-- The Yanks tied the score at 1 in the bottom half of the third thanks to – who else? – Ben Rice. Entering the night, Rice’s pair of solo home runs in Game 2 were the only runs the Yanks had mustered in the series. In the third, he hit a two-out, RBI single to score Jones, who had walked. At that point, Rice had driven in nine of the Yankees’ 21 runs this postseason.
-- A half-inning after he leapt at the wall and just missed Vilade’s Yankee Stadium homer in right field, Jones re-tied the score at 2 with an RBI double. First, the homer – Vilade swatted an outside pitch from Fried 340 feet to right and Jones, who is 6-foot-7, leapt to try to snare it but the ball was out of his reach. It was Vilade’s first career postseason longball in his first career postseason game and it gave the Rays a 2-1 lead. It was also a drive that would have been a home run in only one park – the one the game was played in. Then with two outs in the bottom of the frame, Volpe smacked a 97 mph liner off Rays starter Nick Martinez for a hit. Tampa Bay went to its bullpen for lefty Ian Seymour to face Jones, who is comfortable against same-side pitchers – he batted .389 against lefties during the regular season. Jones hit a liner to the opposite field, past Mesa. Volpe sprinted from first to score and Jones took third on the throw home and was credited with a two-bagger.
-- The Yankees turned a pretty rare 6-5-3 double play in the first inning, thanks to third baseman Caballero being shifted toward the second base bag against Aranda, a lefty. Aranda hit a hard grounder to shortstop Lombard and Lombard flipped to Caballero, presumably because Caballero was so close to the bag and moving in the direction of first base. Volpe, playing second, was there, too. Caballero touched second and threw to first for the twin kill. Nifty collab.
-- After the Yanks used Chisholm as a pinch-hitter for Caballero, he remained in the game to play second base and Volpe moved from second to third. Entering the game, Volpe had exactly one appearance in the major leagues at third. He fielded his first chance cleanly Wednesday.
-- Boone took a shot with Giancarlo Stanton as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning with a runner on first and two out. The Rays brought in righty reliever Kevin Kelly to face Stanton, who was 0-for-1 in the series entering the game. Kelly struck him out on a 2-2 changeup clocked at 85 mph, ending the frame.
Highlights
It's a 6-5-3 double play for the Yankees! Lombard Jr. ➡️ Caballero ➡️ Garcia Jr. https://t.co/eNCkOJu1fZ
Anthony Volpe makes it 4-3 with an RBI double. The play was initially ruled a two-run home run, but was overturned upon review due to fan interference. https://t.co/qGMiKDUrRY
NEW YORK — Victor Mesa Jr. hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Max Fried in the sixth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night with the help of a fan interference call for a three-game sweep of their AL Division Series.
Ryan Vilade also homered for the Rays, who reached the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2020 and host the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians in the opener on Monday.
After Mesa’s homer gave the Rays a 4-2 lead, Anthony Volpe appeared to hit a two-run shot against Griffin Jax with two outs in the bottom half as a fan reached over the left-field wall and caught the ball over the glove of a leaping Mesa.
A video review determined the ball would not have been over the wall and would not have been caught by Mesa. Volpe was awarded an RBI double and George Lombard Jr. was allowed to score from first. Jax recovered to strike out Spencer Jones.
Baseball’s adaptation of video technology was key to the inning.
Lombard reached with a one-out walk when a 3-1 pitch called a strike by plate umpire Dan Bellino was ruled inside on an ABS challenge. Austin Wells then walked on full-count changeup but an ABS challenge by Rays catcher Liam Hicks ruled the pitch caught the inside corner for a strikeout, bringing up Volpe.
Quite a change from 1996, when umpires did not have technology to assist and Derek Jeter’s homer for the Yankees helped turn around the ALCS opener despite Jeffrey Meier reaching over the right-field wall where Baltimore’s Tony Tarasco was set to catch the ball. MLB began using video for home run calls in 2008 and allowed challenges to ball/strike decisions starting this year.
Ian Seymour pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Kevin Kelly struck out pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton to strand a runner in the eighth and Bryan Baker pitched the ninth for his third save of the series.
Seeking its first World Series title, Tampa Bay celebrated on the field of the big-spending Yankees for the second time in two weeks after clinching the AL East on Sept. 22. New York opened the season with MLB’s third-highest payroll at $303 million while the Rays were 26th at $91 million.
Swept in a best-of-five postseason matchup for the first time since the 1980 ALCS against Kansas City, the Yankees ended their 17th straight season without a World Series crown. That equaled their longest drought since winning their first championship in 1923, a gap between titles in 1978 and ’96.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge missed the postseason after straining a calf on Sept. 16. The three-time AL MVP played just seven games after May 31 because of a fractured rib and the leg injury, an absence the team couldn’t overcome.
After sweeping Boston in the Wild Card Series, New York never led against the Rays and has not advanced past a higher-seeded team in the postseason since 2020.
Jonathan Aranda put the Rays ahead with an RBI single in the third and Ben Rice tied the score against Nick Martinez with a single in the bottom half, his eighth RBI of the postseason.
Vilade, a 27-year-old getting extensive big league playing time this year with his sixth major league organization, hit an opposite-field, 340-foot drive into the right-field short porch in the fourth. The ball, just over the glove of a jumping Jones, would not have been out of any other big league ballpark.
Volpe, starting at second base in place of Jazz Chisholm Jr., hit a 96.6 mph liner off Martinez’s back with two outs in the fourth for an infield single, and Seymour relieved. Jones’ opposite-field doubled landed beyond Mesa, driving in Volpe.
Junior Caminero singled in the sixth and Mesa sent a sweeper deep into the right-field seats to chase Fried.
Up next
Tampa Bay gets four days off and will have played just three games in 14 days before starting the ALCS.
It led to a lengthy review and overturned what would have been a game-tying home run due to spectator interference in what became a season-ending 4-3 loss for the Yankees on Wednesday night.
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Video showed the Yankee fan, who was wearing a dark blue bomber jacket, being walked out of the outfield stands by a uniformed member of the NYPD and what appeared to be several members of Yankee Stadium security.
He was also leaving with another fan, who was wearing a pinstriped Yankees jacket and cap.
In another clip that circulated online after the controversial moment, security staff was seen approaching the fan in his seat almost immediately after the replay ruled on the fan interference call, which led to Volpe being awarded an RBI double, meaning only one run scored.
Yankee fans around them did not appear to have too much of a reaction toward the spectator as he exited with stadium staff.
Yankees fan escorted out after interfering with Anthony Volpe's game-tying HR turned RBI double. pic.twitter.com/P38XeZZQiZ
The Rays got out of the inning with a 4-3 lead, the same score as the final.
The incident had a very close similarity to the infamous Maier incident in the 1996 ALCS between the Yankees and Orioles, when the then-young fan helped get a Derek Jeter home run over the wall in right field of the old stadium.
A fan who interfered with a ball hit by Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe is removed from the game in the sixth inning during Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Rays, Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostA fan who interfered with a ball hit by New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is removed from the game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In a statement, Major League Baseball said it had “definitively determined the spectator interfered with the ball over the field of play” after looking at “all relevant angles.”
“The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught. The call is OVERTURNED, there was spectator interference and no home run,” the league said in a statement. “Additionally, the Replay Official scored one run and placed the batter-runner at second.”
As manager Dave Roberts was addressing the team following a 4-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves to advance to the NLCS, he was telling them there is no “more talented team than the Los Angeles Dodgers” and reminded them that they are “smarter, we’re better, and we’re tougher.”
As he was finishing up, a member of the Dodgers organization was heard adding to Roberts’ speech by saying, “And we’re dinosaurs.”
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts walking off the field at Truist Park after the Dodgers eliminated the Braves in the NLDS. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
While the member of the organization acknowledged they are a “dinosaur,” it might’ve gone completely over Roberts’ head as he continued to speak to his team.
The term “dinosaurs” was the latest jab added to the Dodgers and Padres rivalry when new San Diego owner, José E. Feliciano, made a statement that some took as a jab at the Dodgers by saying, “The owner of the Dodgers owns a lot of dinosaurs,” just before San Diego played Game 2 of the wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs.
While it’s unknown who confirmed the Dodgers are “dinosaurs,” the fans speculated that it might’ve been Miguel Rojas as @JustRay122 commented on X saying, “Was that Miggy Ro with the ‘we’re dinosaurs’ ”
Players on the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrating their NLDS series victory over the Atlanta Braves AP Photo/Mike StewartDodgers players celebrating after eliminating the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
The fans are also embracing being dinosaurs, as “kida_kudz wrote, “We’re smarter, we’re better, we’re tougher, and we’re dinosaurs.”
Other fans are hoping the Dodgers take the dinosaur jab as a new marketing opportunity, as @KennyJ1975 commented, “If the Padres face us, the @Dodgers need to market dinosaur skeletons as much as possible. Make them mean, not friendly.”
While the Dodgers are celebrating the victory, they’re waiting to find out who their NLCS opponent will be as the Brewers currently have a 2-1 series lead over the Padres.
