Rays gave Yankees a chance Saturday. Will it come back to haunt them?
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays showed very few weaknesses over the first month of the season, but the Yankees knew there was a small chance to sneak in and steal a game against the bullpen this weekend.
New York was hoping for a shot at that one Rays weak spot.
“Listen, their starting pitcher (Drew Rasmussen) did a really good job. He had really good stuff. But we stuck with it, stayed confident and found some ways to kind of sneak in there and get rolling,” Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader said after his team’s 3-2 win Saturday.
With the Rays bullpen unable to shut the Yankees down, Bader, who was not in the starting lineup, saw an opportunity for New York’s most important comeback win of the young season. Bader entered in the seventh as a pinch-hitter with his team trailing 2-0 and remained in the game. His two-run single in the eighth provided the winning margin.
“They didn’t try to do too much and kind of shot, I think, three balls the other way,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I thought (reliever Kevin Kelly) made some really good pitches. You’ve got to tip your cap to those guys, squaring balls up, and then Bader had the big hit — kind of looked like he cued that one, but they all count, certainly that one.”
It wrenched the door open for the Yankees (18-16), who had been in a downward spiral. Suddenly, they have a chance to win a series against the American League-leading Rays with their ace, Gerrit Cole, on the mound today. The Rays have lost just one series at home this season and still hold a nine-game lead over the last-place Yankees in the East Division. But for a New York team that is barely scraping by right now, that’s a huge opportunity.
“Anytime you play here and know how tough it is to play here and against that team and how well they’re playing, for us to scratch and claw our way back (Friday) night and lose a tough one and then fall behind (Saturday) and keep on scratching, that’s big,” manager Aaron Boone said.
“I know we’re in a tough spot right now and beat up, or whatever, but I know those guys are competing. And that’s what I want us to keep reiterating with them. It isn’t easy right now, and that’s OK. There’s going to be times like that, but we’re competing our butts off right now.
“And that’s what we need to continue to do.”
It was the first time the Rays had lost a game this season after taking the initial lead, and it was the first time they had lost when leading after seven innings.
From the Yankees’ perspective, it was the first time this year they have had a go-ahead hit in the eighth inning or later while trailing.
Next week, the Rays will face the Yankees four times in the Bronx. Bader (lat injury) will be back on a regular workload after being eased back from the injured list this week, and New York have slugger Aaron Judge (hip) back.
Bader certainly thinks they can get things rolling, starting today against the Rays.
“We’re fighting, and we’re going through stuff. We’re just finding our stride, which is completely normal,” he said. “It’s the early part of the season and if this is the worst baseball we’ll play all year, then I think we’re in a really good spot. We’re playing confidently, and wins like this definitely create some momentum for us.”
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