Wednesday, 4 a.m.
Once again, the smart team beat the rich team.
Oh, it isn’t that simple, of course. The Tampa Bay Rays have talent, and the New York Yankees have other advantages besides money. But to the world, those are the descriptions that fit. The Yankees are the Cobras. The Rays are Team Mongoose. The Yankees are the Mansion on the Hill. The Rays are the Little Train That Could.
And again, the smarter, cheaper, more determined Rays have felled the money giants.
This time, it was 5-2, and yes, Wednesday night’s game was a lot like Tuesday night’s game: Great starting pitching and early power were too much for the last-place Yankees to overcome. This time, it was Zach Eflin, throwing six innings of three-hit baseball.
And this time, the muscle came from Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena, both of whom homered. It was the 15th for Diaz and the 18th for Arozarena, who has had a cold July, hitting just .223.
The Rays also got runs on a Manny Margot double and a Brandon Lowe single.
In two wins this series, the Rays have six home runs by six players. Their starting pitching has given up one run.
Colin Poche gave up two runs in the ninth to the Yankees, but Pete Fairbanks struck out Giancarlo Stanton as the potential tying run at the plate final out. It was his 14th save.
The Rays and Yankees wrap up their series today at Yankee Stadium at 6:40 p.m. Shane McClanahan will start for the Rays against Gerrit Cole of the Yankees.