AL DIVISION SERIES: YANKEES VS RAYS

October 7, 2026

Kevin Cash

Yankee Stadium

Tampa Bay Rays

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Rays, 4 - Yankees, 3

Q. I think Victor Mesa, Jr., had that big home run. What makes him so good against the lefties?

KEVIN CASH: I don't know if I have the best answer. I think he stays on the ball really well. We've seen him since he's come up here and the opportunities he's gotten against left-handed pitching. The ability to shoot the ball the other way on the fastball, pull the breaking ball. I think that was his third bat off Fried.

I felt like it was up in the zone, a curve ball or sweeper and covered it. But Victor Mesa, Jr., is a very talented player both sides of the ball. And when we got him up here and he found comfort in playing in that role that he was in basically every day, he really lengthened out our lineup.

Q. What did you see with the interference in the sixth?

KEVIN CASH: I mean, I felt like New York got it right from my vantage point. I haven't gone back and looked at it. The only thing I saw was what was shown on the scoreboard. I didn't think the ball was going to get out, and then New York placed the runners where there were.

I don't know if he would have caught it or not caught it, the guy would have scored or not. Our replay, Official Nick, said the runners had passed second base at the point where the ball hit the fan's wrist or hand, and makes sense why they awarded him home.

Q. Kevin, when the home run was hit, he turned and looked at your dugout and then the cameras caught you pointing toward him, almost like you were telling him to run?

KEVIN CASH: Yeah. I was telling him to run. The last thing we need to do is ignite a really great team over there, and I get the emotions and the excitement. And that was probably the biggest home run he's ever hit in his life.

So I totally appreciate how you want to enjoy that. In today's game, there was a fine line of what's okay and what's not, and Victor was really excited for what he just did for his team.

Q. And how did you get through your celebration with very little shrapnel?

KEVIN CASH: This is my second shirt, second hat. I've changed it twice. Cami just sprayed something on me and so did Victor. Both of them did. I said this is a dry shirt. If they want to play the next game, they'll stop.

Q. Kevin, we've talked a lot about you guys finding ways to win rising to challenges. Seems like today was kind of an example of both of those things.

KEVIN CASH: Yeah. A lot of things we did well. We knew we had a lot of challenges coming and throughout the entire series against their starting pitching and certainly Max Fried. He was outstanding. Felt like we had some good at-bats. We got some timely hits. Jonny picked up the first run there.

But it felt like it was going to be back and forth. It's two very evenly matched teams that can go toe to toe with each other and do a lot of things really well, and we were fortunate that we found ways to get the big hit and separate the game into our favor in the lead. They're 10 inches away from tying it.

Q. I think you told the guys after one of the earlier celebrations, there was more meat on the bone. Is that kind of the message still?

KEVIN CASH: The exact same message. Let's continue what we're doing. Don't know who we're playing yet, but we know we're going to face a very talented team, whoever it is.

Q. You knew how hot the Yankees lineup was coming into that Wild Card series. To hold them to five runs in three games, just what impressed you the most?

KEVIN CASH: I mean, that's a series right there, that we were able to stay in rhythm, stay in sync, and a lot of people talk about what's better. I still would say winning the division and having the days off were better.

I applaud our players for taking it serious with the 4-5 days off and trying to get something out of it. It's not game speed playoff reps, but you can get something out of it. They did that.

And the way our pitchers just executed multiple times through that lineup was really, really impressive. But we did it for the most part by just limiting walks. If you don't walk them, you're going to give yourself a chance.

Q. You mentioned you were going to use all five starters. You did that obviously with Seymour and Jackson. What was the job they did being flexible with whatever --

KEVIN CASH: I don't know who would be more valuable. Obviously Rasmussen is out, but from that point, after Rasmussen, Seymour what he did. Jackson's contributions for the two innings that he gave us. Really impressed with Griffin Jax after what took place, the long sit there and wait it out, the frustration that probably was coming through his mind that he thought it was a homer to be able to bear down right there and get Spencer Jones for the strikeout and then go back out and have a really dominant inning was huge.

Q. What is it like for you as a manager to see two guys in Ryan and Victor who really emerged in their respective roles this year have a signature moment in such a big game?

KEVIN CASH: Yeah. It means a lot. It means a lot because they're key parts to our clubhouse, and the respect that Ryan Vilade has. He just missed hitting a homer on the pull side. He figured I would try to go to the shorter part and got it. I wasn't sure if Jones got the ball or not, but he's been right in the thick of things when we're facing left-handed pitching. And maybe on the other teams, he's playing more, but he's accepted his role of doing everything he can to contribute when his number is called in such a big way.

Victor Mesa, Jr., like I talked about earlier, the way he came onto our team, lengthened our lineup, what he does on both sides of the ball has really helped us get to the point we're at.

Q. As well as you played all year and impressed the other 29 teams, is their satisfaction now showing the casual crowd in the postseason how good the Rays are?

KEVIN CASH: Sure. You always want to play well on the biggest stage, right? You're not going to get a bigger stage than playing against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium. There's bigger stages that come, and we just want to continue to play well.

I don't think are we're out to prove anybody wrong. We're out to just continue doing what we've done well.

Q. Some player told me that Nick Martinez has been taking a great leadership in the clubhouse. Could you tell us like how he's been acting on the field, off the field and helping the team?

KEVIN CASH: I mean, Nick is everybody's biggest cheerleader the days he doesn't pitch and maybe more so on the days he does pitch. That's a little odd for a starting pitcher to -- the way he's cheering on his teammates, he comes off the mound, he's the loudest one yelling and the loudest clapping.

I think I read something that Taylor Walls said, he puts a smile on everybody's face because he cares so much. He's always asking what can I do, how can I help you. He's been instrumental to our success.