Thursday, 4 a.m.
The arms of the Tampa Bay Rays have rarely been better.
Once again, the pitching staff of the Rays dominated the big-swingers of the powerful Yankees. The Rays completed their sixth shutout of the year in a 3-0 victory over the Yankees.
The Rays have struck out 45 Yankee hitters in their three games. The Rays now lead the AL East by five games.
So who was the star in this one?
-- Starting pitcher Shane McClanahan threw 6 1/3 innings of shoutout, four-hit baseball.
-- Designated hitter Yandy Diaz had four hits to up his average to .327.
-- First baseman Jonathan Aranda drove in all three runs, giving him 61 for the season, good for fifth in the AL.
-- Reliever Bryan Baker had his 25th save of the season.
In all, it overwhelmed the Yankees, who have won only two of their last 13 games.
The Rays and Yankees play again today at 1:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays. The Yankees have not announced a starter.
