Harrison Bader’s immediate impact fuels Yankees’ win over Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Saturday started as an off day for Harrison Bader, but the Yankees’ center fielder ultimately played hero in a 3-2 win over the Rays.
Shortly after DJ LeMahieu put the Yankees on the board with an RBI double in the eighth inning, Bader added two more runs with a single. The two-out bloop helped the last-place Yankees avoid their second straight loss to the division-leading Rays at Tropicana Field.
Saturday marked Bader’s fourth game of the season after he suffered an oblique injury early on in spring training. But he’s already made his presence felt a handful of times thanks to his elite defense in center and a few timely hits.
Bader also crushed a three-run homer against the Rays on Friday, though the Yankees dropped that game, 5-4. Bader began Saturday on the bench because the Yankees are still ramping him up in his return from injury, but he’s expected to play again Sunday.
It looked as if Saturday was going to go down as another loss for the Yanks after Rays outfielder Manuel Margot rocketed a ball beneath DJ LeMahieu’s glove in the first inning. The two-out, two-run, 107.9 mile-per-hour double off Domingo German provided the game’s only runs until the Bombers’ late comeback against Tampa Bay’s bullpen.
German buckled down after that, though, recording four hits, two walks and five strikeouts in his second consecutive strong start.
Wandy Peralta, Ron Marinaccio, Clay Holmes and Ian Hamilton didn’t allow a run in relief for the Yankees. Holmes, who had some rough outings earlier in the week, handled the heart of Tampa Bay’s lineup in the eighth inning, while Hamilton earned his first career save against the bottom of the order in the ninth frame.
Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen enjoyed an easy outing against the Yankees’ offense, allowing just two hits while walking two and striking out six over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. But the Rays’ bullpen spoiled the solid start, as Jalen Beeks and Kevin Kelly gave up all of the Yankees’ runs.
With the series tied at a game apiece, the Yankees will try to escape Tampa Bay with another win on Saturday. Having their ace on the mound will help their chances.
Gerrit Cole is off to a scorching start this season, recording a 5-0 record, 1.35 ERA and 52 strikeouts over seven games and 46 2/3 innings. His 1.9 Wins Above Replacement leads the American League, according to FanGraphs.
The Rays have not announced their Sunday starter yet.
