Rays piece together a rare win over Yankees

by Gary Shelton on June 23, 2018 · 0 comments

in general, Tampa Bay Rays

Willy Adames makes a leaping stop against the Yankees./JAMES LUEDDE

Willy Adames makes a leaping stop against the Yankees./JAMES LUEDDE

Saturday, 3 a.m.

When it works -- and often, it does not -- it looks something like this.

When it works, when all of the pieces of the jigsaw come together, this is how it feels.

It was an opener day at Tropicana Field Friday night, one of those nights where a short-term reliever opens the game followed by a relay team of matchup relievers.

And for once, it worked the way it was supposed to work.

Ryne Stanek opened, and despite a high pitch count, he gave up just one hit in his one inning. Ryan Yarbrough came in, and in 3 1/3 innings, he also gave up  only one hit. That brought Diego Castillo, and then Chaz Roe, and then Jose Alvarado, then Sergio Romo.  It was a relay team of success, and together, they pieced together a 2-1 win over the powerful New York Yankees, allowing just five hits along the way.

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Romo closes pitching for the Rays against the Yankees./JAMES LUEDDE

Romo closes pitching for the Rays against the Yankees./JAMES LUEDDE

"You just don't limit that team to one run very often," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "As far as piecing it together and doing their jobs, that's as good as you can make it."

The Rays got only  two runs themselves, but it was enough to win a one-run game. Tampa Bay is now 12-19 in one run games this season. They improved their record against teams over .500 to 14-31.

Yarbrough earned his sixth win of the season./JAMES LUEDDE

Yarbrough earned his sixth win of the season./JAMES LUEDDE

Tampa Bay scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth,Willie Adames singled in Daniel Robertson with a two-out hit to right. In the fifth, C.J. Cron hit a deep sacrifice fly to right to bring home Matt Duffy.

Aaron Judge brought the Yankees to within one run when he singled home Gleyber Torres in the seventh.

The Rays made the two runs stand up, however. Adames made a fine

Crom drove in a run with a deep sacrifice fly./JAMES LUEDDE

Cron drove in a run with a deep sacrifice fly./JAMES LUEDDE

leaping catch -- "I have some ups," he said, grinning -- and in the ninth, the team ended the game with a double-play. Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were on deck for the Yankees.

Romo went to 3-0 on Brett Gardner, but got him to hit into the game-ending double play.

"That was huge," Cash said. "For whatever reason, lefties have given him some fits this year. As of late, the left handed at-bats have led to walks. When he went 3-0, you are kind of scratching your head wondering "what's going on in his mind?'"

Wilson Ramos had three hits for the Rays, while Adames, Carlos Gomez and Duffy had two.

Chaz Roe pitches against the Yankees.JAMES LUEDDE

Chaz Roe pitches against the Yankees.JAMES LUEDDE

"I needed that hit," Adames said. "I haven't been in rhythm where I can get hot."

For much of the night, however, the game felt as if it were in Yankee Stadium. Early in the game, Duffy took a pitch on a 1-2 count that was called a ball, and the crowd booed lustily, wanting a strikeout. In the ninth, Rays' closer Romo threw several times to first base, and again, the crowd cheered as if Romo was an enemy in the park.

"They were pretty loud," Cash said. "We've played the Yankees and Red Sox quite a bit, and they have a lot of fans who travel with them. I thought the loudest moment was when we got the final out and that's what we were concerned about. Our fans showed up and supported us."

The Rays play the Yankees again today at 4:10 p.m. Wilmer Font pitches for the Rays against Sonny Gray.

Daniel Robertson reacts after scoring against the Yankees./JAMES LUEDDE

Daniel Robertson reacts after scoring against the Yankees./JAMES LUEDDE

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