Yankees want redemption with Rays, and they’ll get chance in AL Division Series

The Yankees hated losing a bunch of times to the Tampa Bay Rays this season.

They hated losing the AL East to them after winning the division last year.

They really hated it when the Rays manager responded to a couple of his players being hit by pitches with his “I got a whole stable full of guys that throw 98” threat.

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They also probably weren’t thrilled hearing the Rays celebrated winning the AL East wearing their new “stable” t-shirts.

The Yankees wanted a chance of redemption, and they’ll get it.

After sweeping the Cleveland Indians Wednesday night/Thursday morning in an epic Wild Card Series Game 2, the Yankees draw the Rays next in an American League Division Series.

The best-of-five series will be played in San Diego, one of four bubble postseason bubble cities, and won’t begin until Monday.

The Yanks advanced by rallying for a 10-9 win over the Indians at Progressive Field that ended at 1:14 a.m., EST. About six hours earlier, the Rays punched their ticket with an 8-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rays dominated the season series, winning eight of 10 meetings, and wound up winning the AL East by seven games over the second-place Yanks.

“We’ve flipped the script for 2020,” Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said after his club beat Gerrit Cole and the Yankees in a September game.

They did, but those eight wins and division flag won’t help the Rays next week when they see the Yanks for the first time in a postseason series.

The Yanks will go into the series feeling great about themselves after scoring 22 runs in two wins over the Indians. Also, they’ll have ace Gerrit Cole lined up to pitch Game 1 and maybe Game 5 on short rest, if needed.

The Rays are confident, too.

After beating Toronto on Wednesday, Rays catcher Mike Zunino said, “Who we play, I don’t want to say is irrelevant … but I like our odds against anybody.”

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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

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