Max Fried, the American League Pitcher of the Month for April, continued his dominant performance into May, improving his record to 6-0 after the Yankees' 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Fried's ERA stands at an impressive 1.19, with opponents batting only .207 against him. In his first May start, he pitched seven shutout innings, allowing only one hit and striking out six.

On the opposing side, Ryan Pepiot of the Rays held the Yankees in check for five innings but was relieved by Mason Montgomery, who surrendered a three-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt, accounting for all of the Yankees' runs. The Rays' offense has struggled recently, scoring only three runs in their last four games after a successful West Coast road trip.

Fried's pitching style is characterized by versatility rather than overwhelming velocity. He utilizes a variety of pitches, each with subtle speed variations, to disrupt hitters' timing. Manager Aaron Boone praised Fried's ability to beat opponents in multiple ways, mixing breaking balls and varying the speed of his fastball.

The Yankees are now 7-0 in games started by Fried. In the game against the Rays, Fried allowed only one hit, a single by José Caballero in the fifth inning, ending his no-hit bid. Junior Caminero was the only other Ray to reach scoring position, advancing to second on a passed ball after reaching on a fielder's choice.

Fried's pitch repertoire includes seven different pitches, ranging from a 71.1 mph curveball to a 97.4 mph four-seamer. This diversity makes it difficult for hitters to anticipate his next move. Teammate Paul Goldschmidt, a former National League rival, noted Fried's six above-average pitches and the challenge of facing him.

Goldschmidt's three-run homer in the fifth inning off Montgomery was the decisive moment in the game. Despite multiple opportunities, the Yankees' offense struggled to capitalize until Goldschmidt's blast. Goldschmidt has been particularly effective against left-handed pitchers this season, hitting .600 with three home runs.

The Yankees' bullpen, consisting of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, secured the victory with scoreless innings. Williams pitched a clean eighth inning, and Weaver earned his third save. Key defensive plays, including pick-offs and double plays, supported Fried's strong performance.

Yankees prospect Jorbit Vivas made his major league debut at second base, drawing two walks. Aaron Judge continued his hot streak, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a double, raising his MLB-best average to .430. DJ LeMahieu resumed his rehab assignment, and Clayton Beeter pitched in a Triple-A rehab outing.

Looking ahead, the Yankees will continue their series against the Rays with Clarke Schmidt and Zach Littell scheduled to pitch on Saturday, followed by Will Warren and Taj Bradley on Sunday.

Max Fried's dominance on the mound, combined with timely hitting and solid defense, led the Yankees to a well-deserved victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.