Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series at Tropicana Field, putting the Yankees on the brink of elimination as the series now moves to New York.
Yankees' defensive errors prove costly
The Yankees made a disastrous start defensively, committing three errors in the opening inning.
Tampa Bay immediately capitalised, scoring the game's first run after second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. made a throwing error while attempting a double play. New York was also charged with catcher interference during the inning.
The Yankees eventually committed four official errors in the game, with their defensive struggles helping the Rays turn pressure into runs.
Ben Rice keeps Yankees alive
New York finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Ben Rice hit a solo home run off Rays starter Freddy Peralta.
Rice struck again in the eighth inning, hitting his second solo homer of the night to reduce the deficit to 5-2.
The two home runs accounted for four of the Yankees' five hits in the game, but they could not generate enough offence to prevent another defeat.
Rays break game open in fifth inning
Tampa Bay regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth before producing the decisive four-run rally in the fifth.
Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero helped set up the inning before Liam Hicks brought Aranda home to put the Rays ahead 2-1.
Chandler Simpson then drove in another run, while Richie Palacios delivered the biggest blow with a two-run single that brought home Simpson and Jonny DeLuca.
The four-run rally gave Tampa Bay a 5-1 advantage and chased Yankees starter Cam Schlittler from the game.
Tampa Bay's pitching closes it out
Peralta worked 3⅔ innings for the Rays, allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out three.
Cam Booser and Ian Seymour helped protect Tampa Bay's lead, with Seymour working three innings and recording four strikeouts.
Bryan Baker then completed the victory with his second save of the series.
Yankees facing elimination
The defeat leaves the Yankees needing to win three consecutive games to overturn the 2-0 deficit and advance to the ALCS.
Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have historically gone on to win the series in the vast majority of cases. MLB records show teams with a 2-0 lead have won 83 of 93 such series.
The last team to overcome a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series was the Yankees themselves, when they rallied against Cleveland in the 2017 ALDS.
Game 3 will take place at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 7, with New York fighting to keep its season alive.
Match summary
• Tampa Bay Rays: 5 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors
• New York Yankees: 2 runs, 4 hits, 4 errors
• Key performer: Richie Palacios, two-run single
• Yankees standout: Ben Rice, two home runs
• ALDS series: Rays lead 2-0
• Game 3: Wednesday, October 7, at Yankee Stadium