The Tampa Bay Rays were hoping that Gerrit Cole would end up making at least one mistake they could capitalize on Wednesday night, much like how he did in his last start against them back on April 18. But that would not happen, as he tossed eight shutout innings and struck out 12, leading the Yankees to a 1-0 win at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay would get two runners as close as third base Wednesday, the first coming in the first on a one-out double by Austin meadows that hit off the B ring catwalk. He would be advanced on a groundout by Manuel Margot to third before Brandon Lowe struck out to end the inning.
The other opportunity came in the seventh, when Randy Arozarena‘s fly ball hit off the top of the wall in left for a double. Meadows moved him to third, but Cole then struck out Margot to end the threat.
Tampa Bay’s pitch turned out to be almost as good as Cole. Collin McHugh allowed one walk and struck out a pair in his two innings of work. Ryan Yarbrough allowed two hits — back-to-back singles to Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela, who had five of New York’s six hits on the night — and struck out four, while pitching into the sixth.
Ryan Thompson got the final two outs of the sixth, but allowed a leadoff single to Jusge followed by a double by Urshela to start the seventh. Kevin Cash went back to the bullpen and brough in left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who got Luke Voit to ground out for the first out of the inning, but Aaron Hicks was able to hit a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to score Judge for the only run of the game.
Cole was followed by Aroldis Chapman, who worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season.
The loss drops Tampa Bay back to .500 on the season at 19-19.
The Rays will look to avoid the sweep by salvaging the series finale Thursday evening. Rich Hill (1-1, 5.17 ERA) will get the start, takin on Jameson Taillon (1-2, 5.02 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
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.
