The tables turned on the Yankees on Tuesday, as they actually benefited from sloppy play in a 7-5, series-tying win over the Rays.
The Yankees certainly didn’t play their cleanest baseball, as a first-inning error from Anthony Volpe preceded a two-run triple off the bat of Jonny DeLuca. With Volpe making a wide, eephus-like flip beyond the reach of Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base on his blunder, zero outs were recorded on the potential double play ball. However, there were plenty of boos for Volpe.
The Rays scored again in the third, as Jonathan Aranda led the frame off by taking Max Fried deep. However, the Yankees answered back in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on two walks from Tampa Bay starter Joe Boyle.
With the free passes issued, Cody Bellinger crushed his 20th home run of the season. Just like that, the Yankees’ ugly start had been erased.
Volpe, meanwhile, got a run back for the Bombers in the fourth, picking up a go-ahead single after Jasson Domínguez singled, stole second and advanced to third on a Ryan McMahon flyball.
The Rays fell apart after that, as Austin Wells reached on an error by second baseman José Caballero. Wells and Volpe then pulled off a double steal, prompting a throwing error from new Rays catcher Nick Fortes, who tried to get the lead runner at third. His errant throw allowed Volpe to score with ease before a Paul Goldschmidt single put the Yankees up three.
Volpe made up for his early defensive lapse again in the eighth, cranking a 452-foot solo homer for an insurance run.
On the mound, Fried permitted four runs over 6.2 innings, though only two were earned because of Volpe’s error. The lefty, who had a 6.52 ERA over his last four starts, also totaled four hits and nine strikeouts.
With the Yankees’ bullpen short and unreliable, Fried threw a season-high 111 pitches. Aaron Boone actually gave him an extra batter following a two-out walk and a brief mound visit in the seventh, but that move backfired by way of a Taylor Walls double.
Fortunately for the Yankees, the struggling Jonathan Loáisiga recorded the final out of the seventh before logging a scoreless eighth. Devin Williams went on to notch his 17th save of the year, though he did surrender a run in the ninth.
Things could have been worse after Volpe made another error, this time on a throw, with two outs in the ninth, but Williams struck out Aranda to end the game with two runners in scoring position.
The victory improved the Yankees’ record against the American League East to 12-19 this season. More importantly, the second-place pinstripers gained some ground in the division, as they are now four games behind the first-place Blue Jays.
Originally Published:
