ST. PETERSBURG (WDAE) -- Dropping a game to a division rival is bad enough, but watching your top starter go down to injury at the same time could be a crushing blow for a team, even in mid-May.
The Tampa Bay Rays saw that happen Friday.
Tyler Glasnow left Friday's game with a forearm injury, and New York capitalized on the opportunity, as Gio Urshela's two-run single off Emilio Pagan erased a 3-2 Tampa Bay lead, giving the Yankees a 4-3 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Glasnow (6-1) had just been given a one-run lead, as Domingo German surrendered two-run homer to Austin Meadows that tied the contest, and a solo shot to Ji-Man Choi in the bottom of the fifth that turned a 2-0 deficit into that 3-2 lead for Tampa Bay.
But the right-hander gave up singles to Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier to start the top of the sixth, then struck out Gleyber Torres in what would be his final pitch, as he called out the trainer and left the game with what the team is saying is right forearm tightness.
Cash brought in Pagan to face Andujar, whose infield single loaded the bases for Urshela, who plated Sanchez and Frazier with a single to left.
Tampa Bay had chances to get back into the game, especially in the seventh inning, as they loaded the bases with nobody out against Adam Ottavino, but the righty struck out Tommy Pham on a full-count slider, then induced Choi to ground into a 4-3 double play to escape the threat unscathed.
Tampa Bay also brought the winning run to the plate with two out in the ninth against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, but Meadows struck out to end the game, giving Chapman his ninth save.
The loss pulls New York to within a game in the loss column of the Rays for the lead in the American League East.
SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay Rays (23-14) vs. New York Yankees (23-15), 6:10 pm first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 5:00 with The Inside Pitch.
Rays starter: RHP Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.50 ERA)
Yankees starter: LHP CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.20 ERA)