The New York Yankees (56-38) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (45-47) 2-1 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. The three game series between divisional rivals is now tied up at one game apiece.
Trent Grisham gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead with a RBI double in the second inning. In the fourth inning, he drove in the second run for New York with a sacrifice fly to left field that made it 2-0. That would be enough offense for the Yankees to win this game, though Yandy Diaz did get a RBI groundout in the fifth to pull within 2-1.
Zach Eflin (5-6, 3.99) pitched well enough to keep the Rays in the game, allowing two runs - one of them earned - on four hits while striking out six and walking one in seven innings of work. The Yankees were able to use a pitching lineup that included Marcus Stroman, Tim Hill (2-1, 4.72), Luke Weaver, Tommy Kahnle, and Clay Holmes to keep the Rays offense to just a single run.
The Rays will now look to win the series when they face the Yankees in the rubber game of the three game series on Thursday night. Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50) is scheduled for his second start of the season against Nestor Cortes (4-7, 3.41) for New York. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at 5:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES