The Tampa Bay Rays found themselves on the other side of the coin for the first time in a while Saturday, as they could not hold an early 2-0 lead and mistakes on the basepaths would not allow them to add on, eventually dropping a 3-2 decision to the New York Yankees.
Manuel Margot‘s two-run double in the bottom of the first would bring across all the offense they would get, but the Rays would end up just 1 for 12 Satirday hitting with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 9 after that two-base hit.
Meanwhile, Rays starter Drew Rasmussen, who had a rocky pair of starts prior to Saturday, reverted to his early-season form, allowing just a pair of hits and striking out six in just shy of six complete innings.
But the Yankees began gaining steam at the end of Rasmussen’s appearance, as he walked the final two batters he faced int he sixth, and while New York did not score in that frame, they would capitalize against Jalen Beeks and Kevin Kelly in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo‘s one-out base hit spelled the end of the night for Beeks, while Kelly would allow a single to Gleyber Torres and a double to DJ LeMahieu that cut Tampa Bay’s lead in half. Kelly got Willie Calhoun to pop out, but Harrison Bader‘s soft single to right would give New York the lead which they would not relinquish.
The Rays got the winning run to the plate in the ninth after Luke Raley doubled with two out against Ian Hamilton, but pinch-hitter Isaac Paredes would fly out to end the game.
For Tampa Bay to earn a series win, they must now go through Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (5-0, 1.35 ERA), who gets the start Sunday. Javy Guerra (0-0, 7.20 ERA), who worked a scoreless ninth Saturday, will open Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
