The Tampa Bay Rays (56-43) were swept by the New York Yankees (62-33) in a traditional doubleheader in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon. New York took game one 6-2, before falling 5-1 in game two, to build an eight game lead in the AL East over the second place Rays.
The start of the first game was delayed for more than an hour as a weather precaution, though it never rained during that time - and the Rays started strong after the delay. Solo homers from Austin Meadows and Yandy Diaz gave Tampa Bay an early 2-0 lead in the first inning - but in the second inning, Gio Urshela hit a two-run blast to tie the game 2-2.
After Aaron Boone was ejected later in that inning in an epic rant while arguing balls and strikes, momentum began to shift towards New York. Referring to the Yankees as "savages," it set the table for the Yanks to score three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to build a 6-2 lead that would prove to be the final score. Yonny Chirinos (8-5, 3.29) took the loss for Tampa Bay - he allowed five runs, four of them earned, on nine hits through five innings while striking out eight and walking two. Domingo German (12-2, 3.38) picked up the win after allowing two earned runs on four hits in six innings of work.
The second game of the doubleheader again saw the Rays strike first, as Nate Lowe drove in Tommy Pham in the third inning to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.. However, the Yankees were able to tie the game with a homer from Luke Voit in the fifth, before taking control in the sixth. After the Yankees got the bases loaded off starter Charlie Morton (11-3, 2.61), he balked in the go-ahead run on a miscommunication between him and catcher Mike Zunino. From there the Yankees added three more runs to take control of the second game and would go on to beat Tampa Bay by a score of 5-1.
The Rays now head back to Tropicana Field to begin a six game homestand against the White Sox and Red Sox. Game one against the White Sox will be Friday night at 7:10 PM - Brendan McKay will be called up from AAA Durham to make the start, taking the place of Hunter Wood on the roster. You can hear that game, beginning with Steve Carney and the Inside Pitch at 6, on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of the Rays.
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