The Tampa Bay Rays (78-58) defeated the New York Yankees (83-56) 4-2 on Friday night in the Bronx. The win pushes the Rays new high watermark on the season to twenty games above .500, and they trail the Yankees by only 3.5 games in the AL East standings.
Randy Arozarena hit a RBI double in the first to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. In the fourth the Rays broke through with a two-run double from Wander Franco, before Arozarena doubled again to drive in Wander to make it 4-0.
The Yankees got one back in the seventh inning on a call that was overturned at home plate, and Kyle Higashioka hit a solo homer in the ninth to make it 4-2. Shawn Armstrong then came in to the game and got the final out to pick up his second save of the season.
Drew Rasmussen (10-4, 2.57) got the win by pitching six shutout innings in which he allowed six hits while striking out ten and walking none.
Returning from the IL to play for the first time in more than two months, Wander Franco went 3-for-5 with two runs driven in and two runs scored. Randy Arozarena also finished the night going 3-for-5.
The Rays and Yankees now meet in the second game of their three game series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch on Saturday afternoon is scheduled for 1:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 12:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES