ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Randy Arozarena hit a first-inning home run in a 5-4 win for the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night as they beat the Yankees two of three and extended New York’s winless streak to eight.
Brandon Lowe’s RBI single put Tampa Bay ahead to take fifth on three runs against Nestor Cortes (4-8), and the Yankees lost for the 18th time in 25 games.
Austin Wells and Juan Soto were honored by the Yankees, who have lost four straight series. The Yankees started 17-3-2 in their first 22 series but are 0-7-1 since winning three of four in Kansas City from June 10-13.
New York begins a three-game series against AL East-leading Baltimore on Friday night. The Yankees trail the Orioles by two games.
Soto went 2 for 3 with two walks and reached bases at least three times in a majors-best 30 games, but felt uncomfortable after a hit in the seventh inning. His right hand has been bothering him when hitting since he was injured on June 28 in Toronto.
Shane Baz gave up three runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings in his second start since Tommy John surgery on September 28, 2002.
Kevin Kelly (3-1) got two outs for the win and Pete Fairbanks allowed Ben Rice’s RBI single in the ninth before retiring Gleyber Torres on a pop-up for his 16th save in 18 chances and second of the series.
Second baseman José Caballero, running with his back to the plate, caught Torres’ hit to short center when the ball got caught in the webbing of his glove. The ball went out while he was celebrating, but video analysis confirmed the decision.
Cortes allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, falling to 0-5 with a 6.04 ERA with a .301 batting average against opponents on the road. He is 4-3 with a 1.81 ERA and .191 batting average at home.
Yankees pitcher Matt Blake was ejected in the eighth inning after pinch-hitter Jose Trevino struck with two on and one out following a questionable strike by Edwin Moscoso on a 3-0 pitch,
Aaron Judge went 0-for-4 with one walk and went eight games without an extra-base hit or RBI.
Arozarena’s home run gave the Rays a 2–0 lead in the first after center fielder Trent Grisham missed Yandy Díaz’s leadoff fly, which grounded out for a double, but home runs by Wells in the second and Soto in the third tied it the scoreboard.
Lowe’s run-scoring single, Amed Rosario’s RBI double and Jose Siri’s sacrifice fly built a 5-2 lead in the third. Rice hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
New York went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and was stranded on 10 runners.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: 3B DJ LeMahieu had the night off, a day after he was hit on the left pinky by a pitch and knocked a ball off his neck. Coach Aaron Boone said a CT scan on his neck was clear and that LeMahieu could play on Friday.
NEXT
Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (1-1, 6.75 ERA) will make his fifth start Friday night against Baltimore and LHP Cade Povich (1-3, 6.51 ERA). The forecast in Baltimore points to the possibility of heavy rain
Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (3-4, 3.23 ERA) will face Cleveland RHP Carlos Carraso (3-6, 5.22 ERA) on Friday night.
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