The New York Yankees (59-40) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (48-49) 6-1 on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The Rays are back under .500 after dropping the opening game after the All-Star Break.
The Yankees took control of this game in the third inning. After Alex Verdugo hit a RBI groundout, Anthony Volpe hit a three-run double to make it 4-0. Juan Soto made it 5-0 with a RBI double in the fourth inning.
Brandon Lowe hit a solo homer in the top of the sixth to pull within 5-1, but the Yankees got the run right back in the bottom of the sixth when Aaron Judge hit a RBI single to make it 6-1.
Zach Eflin (5-7, 4.14) did not have a great outing, allowing five runs (four of them earned) on seven hits while striking out five and walking four. Gerrit Cole (3-1, 4.60) earned the win for New York after allowing one earned run on six hits in six innings of work while striking out eight and walking one.
The Rays look to bounce back when they meet the Yankees in the second game of the four-game series on Saturday afternoon. Taj Bradley (4-4, 2.90) is scheduled to start for the Rays and face Nestor Cortes (4-8, 3.67) for New York. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 12:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES