AL DIVISION SERIES: YANKEES VS RAYS

October 5, 2026

Kevin Cash

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Rays 5 – Yankees 2

Q. Kevin, just that 5th inning seemed like an inning that you guys have done those kind of things before. You get a couple hits, you put a couple balls in play, contact play, good base running. Do you think that exemplifies what you're capable of doing?

KEVIN CASH: I think so. It was timely on our part, given you could feel a momentum shift after Ben's home run. But Cammy, Aranda both set the tone. We probably had the right guys coming up. I know they didn't knock the cover off the ball. But putting pressure on the defense with Chandler and Hicksy. We value those guy as lot just from moving the baseball. We talk about it a lot and they did.

Q. (No microphone)?

KEVIN CASH: Jonny had a good day. Swung the bat and just missed a homer. It's infectious how they go about the lineup, knowing when that guy's on base, there's a job to get done and they work really hard to get it done.

Q. Kevin, how did you think Freddy threw the ball tonight and how happy were you with what he did?

KEVIN CASH: I thought he threw the ball incredibly well. We were all super pleased with it. It was a tough decision. I felt like the change-up started just to work off the edge enough where he wasn't able to get it in the zone, but early on, I mean, it was dominant fastball, dominant changeup. It's tough to nit pick anybody that goes through that lineup and gives up a solo homer.

So very pleased with Freddy.

Q. Kevin, the math is what it is. But the difference in being up 2-0, instead of 1-1, going to New York, how significant is that?

KEVIN CASH: It's pretty significant. We're getting ready to go to a place that obviously they play well there. They have a tremendous fan base that really supports them. It's going to be challenging, but, I mean, we've set ourselves up in a good way by getting on a plane here up 2-0.

Q. You've said that all your starters are going to get involved. How big was it to get the nine outs by Seymour?

KEVIN CASH: Huge. We've talked about it. We talked about it as once we clinched. Once winding down the regular season, how we were going to kind of try to navigate some games and there was a thought behind it. Ian pitched out of the bullpen plenty of times. To do that at the end of the year where he came in, faced a hitter, got some comfort with that. Jax has done a lot, Nick's done it a lot. So we know I think the best version of our pitching staff is having all five of those guys contribute.

Q. Kevin, what can you say about Richie Palacios, a guy from a small school, Towson University, he went through the Cleveland organization, came here, been back and forth between the Minors and Majors to come up in a big situation. The last couple games, how have you seen his rise?

KEVIN CASH: That at-bat and the hit was probably the biggest hit in the game for us, the two-run single with two outs. And he's from New York. Very close to Yankee Stadium, I believe.

So, look, we're seeing a healthy player. We've seen Richie in the past when before his knee injuries, where he could really help us on both sides of the ball. There's a lot of versatility there with outfield, infield. Really stayed in the infield throughout the course of this season.

But, I mean, he seems as much as anybody in our lineup to really rise to the occasion when we need him to come through. He's come through so many times for us.

Q. We're four days shy of the two-year anniversary of when the roof came off this place. I wondered if you thought about that at all, seeing all those people out there and how far it's come?

KEVIN CASH: I didn't realize that, but I'm glad the roof is back on and I'm glad our fans are able to come out here. Super appreciative of that and all the hard work that went into getting the stadium back in order.

They showed the video most home games, what took place, and a lot of people really responded in a big way within the organization and outside of the organization. So grateful for that.

Q. During this season, the thing have been different here every night. What is the key to getting the guys focused to believe they can be the hero tonight?

KEVIN CASH: I missed the first part.

Q. Every night during the season, we have different heroes.

KEVIN CASH: Oh, I think that's a by-product of having a really good clubhouse and a bunch of selfless teammates. They don't care who gets it done. They just want to get it done. The biggest cheerleaders are coming from the guys within the dugout. Good teams do not rely on just one or two people. We rely on all nine in the lineup, the guys on the bench and certainly our entire pitching staff.

Q. Aranda didn't have good numbers against Schlittler. What do you think was working with the two singles tonight, obviously?

KEVIN CASH: I think he simplified a little bit with Jonny, his at-bats. Didn't try to get too big. He shot the ball the other way, got a ball down. Getting some of those pitches down is kind of where Jonny likes the ball.

Q. You were able to keep your confidence up though you only got one run in the first inning when it was messy. Obviously, it was important to keep coming back?

KEVIN CASH: Yeah, it's probably -- you're not going to get frustrated anytime you can get one and set a tone early on in the first inning against a really talented pitcher in Cam.

Q. This victory is very important and it keeps a lot of confidence. How to stay focused to finish the work in New York?

KEVIN CASH: I'm not worried about them staying focused. They're going to be excited to get on the plane, sleep in a little bit. We'll do optional workout and playing the Yankees in Yankee Stadium. If you're not focused, they'll be focused.

Q. You struck out twice against Cam Schlittler, the fewest amount of strikeouts he's had in a game all season. He's probably going to win the AL Cy Young. How important was it to ignite the offense?

KEVIN CASH: It was a big part. Constant pressure, constant long at-bats, getting pitches to hit. It's our MO all season long. We're a contact oriented team with guys that can knock the ball out of the ballpark, as well. That's a credit to our lineup because he can strike out anybody.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks so much. See you in New York.