Friday, 4 a.m.
With a chance to pull further away in the AL East Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays fell on their noses.
The Rays were clobbered, 12-4, in a game they simply could not calm down the Yankees.
The Yanks hammered out 14 hits on the day, three of them home runs. Ben Rice had two homers and Austin Wells one.
The Yankees did most of their damage in the third off Rays' starter Drew Rasmussen who gave up six runs and notched only seven outs in taking the loss (7-5).
The Yankees, meanwhile, had a bullpen day. Former Ray Ryan Yarbrough got the win.
After a mini-slump, Junior caminero hit his 27th home run. Victor Mesa Jr. doubled in another run and Ben Williamson singled in one.
Chandler Simpson had two triples. Jonathan Aranda and Williamson also had two hits.
The Rays are home at Tropicana Field against Seattle in their last series before the All-Star game. Nick Martinez (7-2) will start tonight's game at 7:10 p.m. against Luis Castillo (3-7)