Rays edge Yankees behind Franco double

by Gary Shelton on May 6, 2023

in general

Saturday, 4 a.m.

Perhaps the answer is simple. All the Tampa Bay Rays have to do is subdivide Tropicana Field.

You know about Randy Land, right? The left field bleachers of the Trop already are called Randy Land. It was electric enough on Friday night when Arozarena hit a home run to get the Rays started on their way to a 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees.

But how about the outfield beyond center field? You can call that Yandy Village. That's where Yandy Diaz hit his



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home run on Friday night, which came before he evaded the tag at home plate and scored the winning run.

Left field could be Wander Acres. That's where Wander Franco hit his game-winning double that went off the glove of Jake Bauers and knocked in Diaz with the run.

This could work. Every major player could get a plot of land, a section of fans. You know, something to cheer about.

The mound could change names daily. Friday, it would have been Adamburg, after Jason Adam recorded his second save in two games.

In all, the game was a testament to the Rays' tenacity this year, with the team coming back after losing a four-run lead. Garrett Cleavinger gave up another three-run homer (to Harrison Bader) as the Yankees came back to tie in the sixth inning.

In two at-bats, Arozarena was hit on consecutive pitches, which led to a warning to both teams. Rays' manager Kevin Cash, whose players threw a no one, was ejected in an ensuing argument.

"The ump told me that half the crew didn't think it was intentional," Cash said. "I told him I didn't give a s---- what half the crew thought."

Nevertheless, Cash said he didn't think either plunking was intentional, either. He said he was just trying to protect his player.

The Rays got 5 1/3 innings of three-hit baseball from Yonny Chirinos.

They now lead the Yankees by 10 games.

The teams play again today at Tropicana Field (4:10 p.m.). Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Domingo German.

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