These days, the New York Yankees may not be worth a nickel on a $336 million payroll.
They're on a five-game losing streak. For all their power, they scored just 11 runs in their sweep at the hands of Tampa Bay. They're one game over .500 and fading.
On the other hand, they're still the Yankees.
And doesn't it feel good to beat them?
The Rays made it three in a row over the Yankees Sunday, winning 5-4 and passing the .500 mark themselves. It was the first time the Rays have swept the Yankees at Tropicana Field.
Simpson had a triple, two singles./KIM HUKARI
Drew Rasmussen was sharp for the Rays, pitching six innings and allowing only one hit and no runs. He struck out seven in his return from paternity leave.
The bullpen had a harder time, giving up four earned runs and six hits. But Mason Englert survived the ninth after Aaron Judge's two-run homer and a misplayed fly ball by center fielder Cedric Mullins. It was Englert's second save.
The offensive star was Chandler Simpson, who is now hitting .411 after a three-hit day. He scored two runs, drove in one and tripled in the eighth inning.
Junior Caminero and Taylor Walls each had two hits.
The Rays travel to Chicago on Tuesday to play the White Sox at 7:40 p.m. at Rate Field. The Rays will start Shane McClanahan against Noah Schultz.
They didn't exactly bomb the Bombers. But they did bunt them to death.
The Tampa Bay Rays evened their season record at 7-7 Saturday night with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory in 10 innnings at Tropicana Field.
The Rays put together two bunt hits and an infield single to score twice in the 10th. Jonathan Aranda's single to second base brought home Chandler Simpson with the winning run.
Another infield hit, this one by Yandy Diaz, knocked in the tying run in the eighth inning.
The Yankees stayed in the game behind the starting pitching of Max Fried and shortstop Jose Caballero, the former Ray. Caballero had a two-run double in the top of the eighth and gave the Yankees a lead with a single in the 10th.
Fried went eight innings and gave up three earned runs.
Nick Martinez started for the Rays and gave up one earned run in 4 2/3 innings. The Rays used six relievers (three earned runs) in the game.
Jonny DeLuca and Taylor Walls each had two hits for Tampa Bay.
The Rays play New York again today at 1:40 p.m. at Tropicana. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Cam Schlittler.
By now, the Boston Bruins should realize that the Tampa Bay Lightning doesn't have a lot of quit in them.
The Bolts came from behind for the third time this year to beat the Bruins Saturday afternoon. This time, the comeback led to a 2-1 win.
It was the fourth time overall the Bolts have beaten Boston. In their last three games against the Bruins, the Bolts have trailed 5-1 and twice 1-0 in the third period.
For the Bolts, it was a bit of good news after three straight road losses.
Boston opened the scoring on a goal by Morgan Geekie. But the third periods have belonged the Bolts in this searies. In the third period, Brandon Hagel and Emil Lilleberg scored. Lilleberg's goal came with 1:35 to play.
In the series, the Bolts have outscored Boston 6-0 in the third periods.
Andrei Vasileveskiy won his 38th game, stopping 19 of 20 shots.
Hagel, who has been injured, returned to play and scored his 36th goal.
The Bolts return home to Benchmark International Arena Monday night to face the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m.
There are times when the starting pitching is sturdy, when the relief pitching plays its role, when there is enough hitting.
On such nights, the Rays seem to make sense. They hint there are nights when they can compete. On such nights. even the rich kids can beware.
The Rays held on to beat the first-place New York Yankees Friday night at Tropicana Field, 3-2. The Rays put together nine hits (and five walks) offensively, and relied on starting pitcher Steven Matz, who ran his record to 3-0 with the win.
Matz gave up only two hits through five hits. He struck out seven.
Four Rays relievers held the Yankees to one run. Bryan Baker recorded his second save. As a staff, the Rays had 12 strikeouts.
Yandy Diaz had two hits, including his third home run of the season. Catcher Nick Fortes also had two hits.
The Rays are at the Trop again tonight (6:10 p.m.). Nick Martinez will pitch for the Rays against Max Fried.
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Thursday, 4 a.m. They would have you believe that it was just an off night. But then, haven’t too many nights been off for the Tampa Bay Rays? They use words like aberration, like uncharacteristic. Then they go out and do it again. And again. The Rays were hammered again Wednesday night at Tropicana Field, […]
Wednesday, 4 a.m. Perhaps they should build a moat around home plate. Perhaps they should keep guard dogs around third. Perhaps they should build speed bumps around second. Whatever it takes, the Tampa Bay Rays need to slow down the traffic on the bases if they’re going be a team that matters. The Rays were […]
Wednesday, 3 a.m. Suddenly, the road looks dark and dangerous. No longer does the Tampa Bay Lightning look electric with a map in their hands. The Bolts, one of the NHL’s best teams away from home this year, were battered once again Tuesday night. A five-goal third period lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 6-2 […]
Tuesday, 4 a.m. Welcome back, boys. After 561 days away, the Tampa Bay Rays returned to Tropicana Field Monday afternoon. In a lot of ways, it was worth the wait. The Rays beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4. It was their third straight victory. After a horrible start, the Rays’ pitching has given up just 10 […]
Tuesday, 3 a.m. These days, the Tampa Bay Lightning is having a little trouble keeping up with the Buffalo Sabres. For the third straight meeting, the Sabres got the best of the Lightning 4-2 at the KeyBank Center. Buffalo, which tied the Lightning atop the NHL Atlantic Division, has totaled 18 goals in the three […]
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About Gary Shelton
• No one covers Tampa Bay like Gary Shelton.
• No one has seen as many moments, as many athletes, as many coaches as he has over the last quarter of a century.
• No one has won more awards, including two national Associated Press Sports Editors Best Columnist awards and eight top 10 finishes. He also just received his sixth Sportswriter of the Year award for Florida by the NSSA.
• No one has seen more big events, including 29 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics and 11 Final Fours. Gary still goes into the locker rooms to obtain his stories.
• No one has made you angrier, or laugh louder, or think harder about what he has written.
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