Yankees 4, Rays 5: Longoria and LoMo Lead Rays over Yankees

Erasmo Ramirez picked up the start in place of Blake Snell, who was optioned after last Saturday’s game. Ramirez was effective. Ramirez had some very good innings including a seven pitch second inning that resulted in three very weak fly balls.

In the first he allowed a liner off the center field wall off the bat of Matt Holliday. Kevin Kiermaier played it well to keep Jacoby Ellsbury at third. Erasmo couldn’t keep the Yankees off the scoreboard as Ellbury scored on a weak grounder to Tim Beckham at short.

In the third inning Brett Gardner got things started with a bunt that Evan Longoria wasn’t able to make the play on and yanked the throw into the Rays bullpen. Ellbury followed with a doubled down the left field line to score their second run of the game.

Erasmo Ramirez battled through 5.1 innings where he allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked one.

The Rays forced Luis Severino in some deep counts in the first and third innings. They scored one run, but forced the Yankees to the bullpen after five innings.

Corey Dickerson led off the game with a single. Kiermaier and Longoria worked long at bats, but ended up with ground outs that replaced the runner on first. Logan Morrison came through with a full count double to left-center field that scored Longoria from first to tie the game.

The Rays would threaten once again in the third inning. After two quick outs Longoria singled on a grounder up the middle. Morrison and Steven Souza, Jr. picked up walks to load the bases. Colby Rasmus ended the threat with a strikeout.

Coming into the bottom of the seventh the Rays were down 2-1. Dickerson, Kiermaier, and Longoria singled on line drives to start the inning against Adam Warren. LoMo came through win a deep fly ball to center. All runner advanced on the noodle arm in center field and tied the game at two. With two outs Rickie Weeks, Jr. pinch hit for Colby Rasmus when the Yankees went to left handed pitcher Chasen Shreve. Weeks ripped a double down the line to put the Rays up 4-2. In reality it was a high chopper that went right under the glove of Ronald Torreyes.

In the top of the eighth the Rays were unable to keep the lead. Jose Alvarado started the inning issuing his first walk of the season to Brett Gardner. Alvarado fell behind Ellsbury 3-0 before finding the zone and inducing a 3-1 weak fly ball. Ryne Stanek came in to face Holliday. Holliday deposited a high 2-2 fastball into the right field stands to tie the game at four. Stanek allowed a single to Starlin Castro before being replaced by Danny Farquhar. Farquhar induced a double play off the bat of Aaron Judge.

In the bottom of the eighth Derek Norris and Kiermaier earned walks off Tyler Clippard to bring Longoria up to the plate with two outs. As Rays fans are accustomed to seeing Longoria sent a groundball to left field that scored Norris from second to put the Rays up 5-4.

Alex Colome came on to close out the victory for the Rays. Didi Gregorius started the inning quickly with a popup to short. Chris Carter struck out swinging on a breaking ball. Austin Romine ends the game with a weak grounder to the pitcher.

Rays are back to .500 at 22-22. Game two of the series starts at 4:10 PM Saturday afternoon.

Moments of the Game:

Evan Longoria had four hits including the big go ahead single in the ninth. He ended the game four for five with a double, two runs scored, and a RBI.

Logan Morrison had a double in the first to score the first run of the game. With the bases loaded in the seventh he hit a big sacrifice fly that advanced all three runners.

Erasmo Ramirez had a very effective outing. Ramirez was limited to 65 pitches as he transitions back to being a starter. He made it through 5.1 innings and only allowed two runs while striking out five and walking one.

Diego Moreno threw very well during his 1.2 inning stint. He struck out one and the only base runner allowed was a Chris Carter HBP.

Alex Colome picks up his 11th save of the season with a clean inning including a strikeout.