TAMPA, Fla. — The Rays knew September baseball would feature tense games that could turn on any play. They got a slight head start on that with a pair of wild weekend games against the Padres. After an inspiring comeback victory on Saturday, the Rays pulled off an even more dramatic one Sunday, rallying to tie with two outs in the ninth inning, then scoring a 5-4 walk-off victory in 11 ...

Jorge Mateo of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his game-winning single against the San Diego Padres during the eleventh inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla..

Mike Carlson/Getty Images North America/TNS

TAMPA, Fla. — The Rays knew September baseball would feature tense games that could turn on any play.

They got a slight head start on that with a pair of wild weekend games against the Padres.

After an inspiring comeback victory on Saturday, the Rays pulled off an even more dramatic one Sunday, rallying to tie with two outs in the ninth inning, then scoring a 5-4 walk-off victory in 11 innings.

Newcomer Jorge Mateo delivered the winning run with a liner to left, and the Rays joyously celebrated their third walk-off win.

The rally started with a one-out bloop single by catcher Liam Hicks, moving Richie Palacios, who replaced Jonathan Aranda as the runner placed at second, to third. After Kenny Piper, who ran for Hicks, stole second, the Padres intentionally walked Chandler Simpson, who had the winning hit Saturday, to load the bases.

The Rays tied the score when Jonny DeLuca bounced a ball that shortstop Xander Bogaerts couldn’t handle.

The Padres took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 11th when Manny Machado, the runner placed at second, advanced to third on a wild pitch by reliever Tyler Wells and scored on a sac fly by Ty France.

The Rays were an out away from a 3-1 loss when DeLuca delivered a two-out home run down the left-field line that got a little help getting over the 4-foot, 11-inch fence as Samad Taylor appeared to make the catch, then dropped the ball on contact.

The Rays got through the top of the 10th unscathed thanks in part to Liam Hicks making a strong throw and third baseman Junior Caminero an acrobatic tag to catch Jase Bowen trying to steal for the second out.

The win improved the Rays’ American League-leading record to 82-54 and maintained their 4 1/2-game East division lead over the Yankees, who blasted Boston 16-1. In doing so, the Rays, per team calculations, reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to at least 12, pending later games.

Drew Rasmussen delivered six solid innings, allowing two runs, four hits and two walks while striking out six, but didn’t get much help from his Rays friends.

San Diego starter Robbie Ray and relievers Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller combined to hold the Rays to four hits and just one after the fourth inning.

The Rays continue their homestand, opening a three-game series against the Mets on Monday night.

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