NEW YORK (AP) – Brandon Lowe hit a run for the fifth time in six games, Austin Meadows also connected and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees, leading East, 6-3 on Tuesday night.
The Rays, who took second place, reduced their deficit to 1 1/2 games in the first game of the three-game set. Tampa Bay has won four of the games this season.
“Overall, I cheered myself through the total offensive approach,” said Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash.
Luke Voit hit his third home run in two days and Gary Sanchez was also deep, New York ended a six-game winning streak and dropped to 10-1 at Yankee Stadium this season.
“They beat us four out of five. It’s frustrating,” Voit said. “They’re a team. They have a pitch, a defense and they can bat a little.”
Kevin Kiermaier covered a triple with an out in the third inning and scored on a nine-hole hitter Michael Perez. Meadows followed up with a single, then Lowe fired a three-point shot to half Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) for a 4-0 lead.
“Just make a mistake, look for anything that opposes you,” Lowe said.
Lowe has beaten Array500 with 11 problems and thirteen RBIs in his last seven games.
“I’ve been driving my ass for five years looking to get this swing where it is and looking to perceive my body and how to move well and it works,” Lowe added.
Tanaka struggled to locate his pitches and batted strong, loaded with six runs – five cleans – and 8 hits in 4 innings.
“I was looking to make adjustment changes, but I couldn’t really locate it. I didn’t really have my command or control,” he said through a translator. “Overall, it wasn’t a smart day.”
Blake Snell (2-0) was 1-5 on the night with 5.82 MPM in 11 career starts at Yankee Stadium. The winner of the 2018 American League Cy Young Award worked around the first runners in the first 3 innings and controlled the fifth, allowing 3 runs, 4 hits and two walks.
“Overall, I think the day off, being locked in a hotel and limited in life, definitely makes things more difficult,” Snell said. “I lay down in bed all day and came here, I didn’t really feel as smart as I wanted. I had to fight.
Willy Adames scored with a ball that passed Sanchez in the room. Meadows went deep to lead the fifth, chasing Tanaka.
Sanchez hit a single shot in the fourth, his fifth of the year and the fifth home race track opposite Snell.
Voit hit a two-run home run in the fifth, reducing the lead to 6-3 with his eighth of the season. The leading first-place first baseman in his coaching career Aaron Boone combines poor line-up with injured stars Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu.
New York loaded the bases with a punch in the seventh, but reliever Diego Castillo withdrew Voit and Gio Urshela to end the threat.
Nick Anderson and Chaz Roe combined for an eighth and ninth goalless, Roe was their first save chance.
“We can fit right between us once we have our heads and the boys rest, and tonight a good sign of that,” Cash said of his bullpen.
LAST LICKS
The Yankees struck out in the back of the ninth inning for the first time this season.
CHANGING THE BRIDGE
The Rays acquired Edgar Garcia of Philadelphia right for a player who would later be named and signed a contract with left-handed agent Dietrich Enns for a minor league contract. Both players will report to the club’s choice site.
To make room, Tampa Bay has designated infielder Daniel Robertson for assignment.
The Yankees called Nick Nelson right to their choice site, opting for reliever Ben Heller. They also signed veteran shortshoor Jordy Mercer for a minor league contract.
Nelson threw three bleached frames.
COACH ROOM
Lightning: LHP José Alvarado (left shoulder inflammation) consulted a doctor in New York on Monday and will not be able to pitch for at least 10 to 14 days. Array.. RHP Charlie Morton (right shoulder inflammation) on Tuesday presented a “pretty intense” paddock, according to Cash. The two-time All-Star will play on Wednesday. Array.. LD Oliver Drake (right bicep tendinitis) is expected to begin a release program shortly. Array.. LHP/DH Brendan McKay will go through an end-of-season surgery on his left-screening shoulder on Wednesday.
Yankees: The pass trial on (stretched right calf) has required batting practice and could be triggered for Saturday’s showdown with the Crosstown Mets, the first day the batter is eligible to return. Arrangement.. C Kyle Higashioka (right stretched oblique) continues to increase from the point of view of workload, but is not expected to return soon.
Following
Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 7.04 ERA) has not won in 3 races against the Yankees.
Yankees: LD Gerrit Cole (4-0, 2.76 ERA) will make a 20-game winning streak bigger in his career.
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