Looks like all the Tampa Bay Rays needed to end their four-game losing streak was the comfort of home and the sight of those hated New York Yankees uniforms.
The Rays returned to the Trop for the first time this season, with a sold-out crowd to welcome the reigning American League Champions, and the team rewarded the returning fans to a 10-5 drubbing of their AL-East division rivals.
The Rays picked up two in their half of the second with a pair of unearned runs after a DJ LeMahieu throwing error on a Yandy Diaz grounder with one out. A single by Joey Wendle and a run-scoring double by Willy Adames gave the Rays a 1-0 lead. Brett Phillips drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
Rich Hill set down the first eight Yankees, four on strikeouts, but New York took the lead in the top of the third with two out. Tyler Wade reached on an infield single, then LeMahieu hit a grounds-rule double. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a two-run single, then Aaron Hicks smashed a long homer to left center to give the Yankees the lead.
Hill then retired the next 10 Yankees he faced.
The Rays retook the lead in their half of the third, knocking Corey Kluber out after two and a third innings. Yoshi Tsutsugo got an extra life after Yankee shortstop Gleyber Torres dropped a popup in foul territory down the third base line, and lined a single to lead off the inning. Randy Arozarena cut the deficit to one on an RBI single, then a bases-loaded double by Wendle off reliever Nick Nelson gave the Rays the lead.
Tampa Bay added four more in the fourth, the big hit a bases-clearing double by Brandon Lowe off Nelson.
Adames added a solo homer in the 7th off Yankee reliever Lucas Luetge to put the Rays in double digits.
The two teams go at it again Saturday afternoon, with Domingo German (0-1, 9.00 ERA) facing Chris Archer (0-1, 13.50 ERA). Game time is 1:10, with coverage starting on 95.3 WDAE with Neil Solondz and the Rays pregame show at 12:30.
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