Rays 6, Yankees 3: Glasnow wobbles, but doesn’t break. Offense hits enough homers.

Glasnow struggles with command, but keeps the game in reach.

The Tampa Bay Rays took on the New York Yankees as they look to extend their dominance in the head to head matchup. The Rays have won 14 of their last 19 matchups dating back to the beginning of the 2020 season including the playoffs.

The Rays sent Tyler Glasnow to the mound coming off one of the most dominant outings I’ve seen from a Rays pitcher on Monday night against the Texas Rangers. The Yankees counter with Jordan Montgomery.

Inning 1: Joey Wendle error pushes Tyler Glasnow to 30 pitch inning. Rays 0, Yankees 0

The Rays went down quickly in the top of the frame including two strikeouts.

DJ LeMahieu started the inning off striking out ahead of an Aaron Judge fly out to centerfield. Then things went sideways with two outs. Aaron Hicks flared a single in the oufield. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a well hit grounder that was snagged by Joey Wendle at third base. Despite having all the time in the world Wendle sailed the throw well off target. Gleyber Torres followed with a walk to load the bases. Fortunately Brett Gardner hit a weak grounder to Yandy Diaz a few steps off first base to end the threat and keep the Yankees off the board.

Inning 2: Francisco Mejia homers. Tyler Glasnow loses command, but limits damage. Rays 1, Yankees 1

With two outs in the inning the Rays got on the scoreboard and in the hit column with a short porch special homer off the bat of Francisco Mejia. It was his first homer as a Ray and only would’ve been out in 1 of 30 MLB ballparks. Fortunately for the Rays they were playing in that one stadium.

In the bottom of the inning Glasnow couldn’t hold the one run lead as he lost command of everything. Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela started off the inning with walks. After Rougned Odor hit a popup behind the plate that just stayed out of the stands for Mejia to catch for the first out LeMahieu hits a line drive to score the Yankees first run and tie the game. Judge struck out for the second out and the base runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Hicks hit a soft liner directly at Mike Brosseau standing in short right field.

Through two innings Glasnow’s pitch count was over 50 and didn’t have his command.

Inning 3-5: Manuel Margot adds a two run homer. Glasnow settles down. Rays 3, Yankees 1

Both teams went down in order in the third inning. Glasnow found some fastball command and struck out two of the three batters faced.

In the fourth inning the Rays forced Montgomery to work. The first three hitters forced three ball counts, but only Austin Meadows was able to reach base via a walk. After a nine pitch at bat by Brosseau, Manuel Margot jumped on a middle middle changeup sending it into the bullpen to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.

Glasnow shut down the Yankees with another three up, three down frame.

The Rays went down quickly in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth Glasnow had to bring out the team doctor due to cramps in his non-pitching hand. It looked really painful as Glasnow chugged a Gatorade on the field. Command wavered as LeMahieu drew a leadoff walk. Judge struck out for the first out. The Rays made an unconventional defensive play as Hicks sent a weak flyball to the heavens only to land about 10 feet in play due to miscommunication between Mejia and Diaz. Diaz was able to recover and get the force out at second. Stanton struck out to end Glasnow’s night.

Glasnow fought throw shaky command and cramps to give the Rays a chance. He only allowed two hits but walked four while striking out seven. Most importantly the Yankees were only able to score one run.

Inning 6: 6 up, 6 down. 3 outs closer to the end. Rays 3, Yankees 1

Jeffrey Springs came on relief and sat the Yankees down in order.

Inning 7: Joey Wendle adds another 2-run shot. Yankees answer with two runs. Rays 5, Yankees 3

Brosseau lead off the inning with a four pitch walk. Margot followed with a soft grounder to Urshela at third base. The call on the field was a double play, but the Rays challenged as Margot easily beat the throw to first. With two outs Wendle jumps over a 1-0 changeup sending it deep into the right field bleachers to extend the Rays lead to 5-1. At this point the Rays had five base runners. Two walks and three hits, all homers, with every base runner touching home plate.

Springs stayed in to start the seventh inning. He struck out Urshela, but then Odor hit his first homer as a Yankee to cut the lead to 5-2. Collin McHugh was summoned from the bullpen to keep the lead.

LeMahieu hits a grounder up the middle for a single ahead of a Judge liner to the gap to score LeMahieu and cut the Rays lead to 5-3. McHugh struck out Hicks for the second outs, but Kevin Cash came out for another pitching change.

This time Ryan Thompson was called upon to hold the Rays lead. Stanton struck out to end the threat and keep the Rays ahead.

Inning 8: Ryan Thompson retires the Yankees in order. Rays 5, Yankees 3.

Diaz picked up the Rays first hit that wasn’t a homer with a single.

The Yankees batters were able to put the ball in play against Thomspon, but didn’t make an impact leading to three outs.

Inning 9: Rays add an insurance run. Diego Castillo slam the door. Rays 6, Yankees 3

Brosseau lead off the inning with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. After Margot struck out Mejia sent a grounder down the left field line to score Brosseau and extend the Rays lead to 6-3. LeMahieu saves a run with a sliding stop up the first base line on a grounder by Wendle. Mejia moves to third, but LeMahieu beats Wendle to first. Willy Adames struck out to end the inning.

Diego Castillo came in looking to pick up a save and send the good guys home victorious.

Castillo gets Urshela to chase a slider in the dirt for a strikeout and the first out of the inning. Odor followed with a weak grounder to Diaz who stepped on the bag for the out unassisted. Two outs. LeMahieu chased a slider in the dirt to secure the Rays victory. Rays win!

Tomorrow the Rays take on the Yankees at 1:05 PM. This time they face one of the best starters in the game in Gerrit Cole. The Rays secured their second series victory against the Yankees, but it’s time to get greedy and complete the sweep.