TAMPA — The Yankees were three outs away from their sixth straight victory on Saturday, but their shot at a win fell apart with Devin Williams on the mound in the ninth inning.
The closer, who now has a 9.00 ERA this season, took over with an 8-4 lead, but a one-out Oswaldo Cabrera throwing error preceded a walk to ex-Yankee Ben Rortvedt and an RBI ground-rule double from Chandler Simpson.
Yandy Díaz then tapped an RBI single before Brandon Lowe tied the game with a one-bagger of his own.
Cabrera then started a stellar double play to keep the game tied at eight, but the Rays completed their comeback in the 10th inning when Jonathan Aranda launched a two-run, walk-off homer off Yoendrys Gómez.
Just like that, the Rays won, 10-8.
Earlier, Carlos Carrasco forced the Yankees to use their bullpen after just four innings. He first let the Rays on the board in the third inning when Díaz picked up an RBI single. Jake Mangum then knocked an RBI single in the fourth before Rortvedt drove in two with a single of his own.
Carrasco totaled four innings, six hits, four earned runs, two walks, one strikeout and 70 pitches.
While the right-hander wasn’t perfect, he left with a lead after some soft contact led to the Yankees’ scoring on a double play ball off Paul Goldschmidt’s bat in the first inning. A second run followed as Jazz Chisholm Jr. squeaked a single through the infield.
Trent Grisham then belted his fifth homer of the season, a solo shot, in the second inning. Aaron Judge added two more runs with a bloop single in the fourth inning before a Wells sac fly brought another home.
The fourth inning also saw Ben Rice take his second hit-by-pitch of the day. While the first was inconsequential, the second one, thrown by Manuel Rodríguez, hit him on his left elbow and warranted a check from the Yankees’ training staff. Rice initially stayed in the game, but Pablo Reyes pinch-hit for him in the sixth inning.
The Yankees announced that Rice exited with a left elbow contusion shortly thereafter. He planned to get X-rays and a CT scan.
With three games down, the Yankees will look for a series win at their spring training complex on Sunday before heading to Cleveland. They have to like their chances of pulling that off, as Max Fried will take the ball.
The lefty has a 1.88 ERA in the early stages of his debut season with the Yankees.
Ryan Pepiot is scheduled to start for the Rays, who will try to salvage the series with a win over their landlords.
