The New York Yankees (26-14) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (19-20) 2-0 on Friday night at Tropicana Field. For the Rays it was their second consecutive loss.
Taj Bradley (0-1, 1.50) looked good in his first start of the season, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out seven and walking two in six innings of work. In a game that turned into a pitcher's duel, Clarke Schmidt (4-1, 2.95) was a bit better, throwing six and two-third shutout innings in which he struck out six and walked two.
The Yankees got all the offense they would need from Anthony Rizzo. He hit a RBI single in the fourth inning off Bradley, before hitting a solo homer in the ninth inning off Shawn Armstrong to make it 2-0, which would prove to be the final score.
The Rays and Yankees now meet in the second game of the three game series on Saturday afternoon. Zack Littell (1-2, 3.00) is scheduled to start for the Rays, and face Nestor Cortes (1-3, 3.72) for New York. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 3:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES