Rays 5, Yankees 3: Rays help extend Yankees’ skid

Another win ahead of the break.

Oh, rad, the Yankees again.

Let’s just jump right into how this game shook out, with Ryan Pepiot pitching for the Rays and Carlos Rodon up for the Yankees.

In the top of the first, Juan Soto got a one-out walk, then Alex Verdugo got a two-out single. Gleyber Torres followed that with a single to score Soto and put the Yankees on the board early. Pepiot got the next out to keep the damage limited to one run. The Rays wasted no time getting the run back, as Yandy Diaz started the home half with a single, and then scored off a Randy Arozarena double. Amed Rosario singled, then an Isaac Paredes homer cleared the bases and put the Rays up 4-1.

And that would be the last time anyone would score for quite some time.

The second was 1-2-3 for both sides.

The third saw Aaron Judge notch a two-out single, but no runs scored. In the bottom of the third Rosario singled and Paredes walked, but both were left stranded.

Anthony Volpe managed a two-out walk in the fourth, but was left on base. The Rays went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.

DJ LeMahieu singled to start the fifth, but three outs quickly followed. Jake Cousins replaced Carlos Rodon, and gave up a one-out walk to Arozarena, who then stole second. Unfortunately the Rays couldn’t bring him home.

In the sixth, Alex Verdugo walked, then two outs followed. Pepiot was replaced by Kevin Kelly, and Pepiot’s final line for the night was 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K on 101 pitches. Kelly got the final out of the inning. The Rays were three-up, three-down in the home half.

Onto the seventh and the inning started out with a single from Trent Grisham, who was then eliminated on the force out off the bat of LeMahieu. Then someone finally scored, but not how we might have hoped, as Colin Poche came in and gave up a home run to Ben Rice. Aaron Judge got a walk, but the damage was stopped at the home run. The Rays managed only a walk from Yandy Diaz, but what they need is some insurance runs, please and thank you.

Jason Adam came in for the top of the eighth and got a 1-2-3. In the bottom half, Jose Siri got a two-out single, then a Jonny DeLuca double brought Siri home and gave the Rays another run.

Onto the top of the ninth where Pete Fairbanks came in to close things out. DJ LeMahieu got a one-out single, but the Rays were able to finish if off with no additional runs scored and walk away with the win.

Final: Rays 5, Yankees 3