The Tampa Rays thoroughly enjoyed how their pitchers performed Saturday, especially against Aaron Judge.
The strong pitching kept the Yankees at bay, and the Rays eventually got the big hit they were seeking in their 2-0 win in 10 innings. Tampa Bay attempts to earn a series win on Sunday afternoon when it closes a three-game set with host New York.
The Rays opened the series by totaling a season-high 14 hits, but they were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in a 5-3 loss on Friday. On Saturday, Tampa Bay got nine hits and evened the series after Jose Caballero hit an RBI double, stole third and scored on former Yankee Ben Rortvedt’s single in the 10th.
“It’s awesome, our hitters showed up when it matters most,” Tampa Bay reliever Jason Adam said. “Top to bottom, a really well-played game.”
Caballero’s hit came after Adam pitched a perfect ninth by retiring Juan Soto, Judge and Anthony Rizzo.
“They’re good hitters,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “That’s who we want facing them. I think Jason, he enjoys and he embraces those big moments, and you can argue the three that he went through are as good as any in baseball.”
Soto had two hits, reached base safely for the 13th straight game and is hitting .354. Judge struck out four times for the 10th time in his career.
Judge heard some boos from portions of a sellout crowd after his fourth strikeout. He is hitting .179 with three homers, 11 RBIs and a team-leading 27 strikeouts.
Judge is in the midst of a 4-for-28 slump, and the Yankees are in their worst rut of the opening weeks.
Although they are 14-7 in their first 21 games, the Yankees are 2-4 in their past six games. During that span, New York had a four-run ninth in Wednesday’s 6-4 victory at Toronto, then put together a five-run seventh on Friday.
“It’s still early,” Judge said. “It’s a long season. Just missing the pitch. Get a pitch in the zone, I got to capitalize on it because I don’t get too many. And then I get hits. I think that’s what it comes down to. Just don’t miss your pitch when you get it and take your walks when you can, not getting anything.”
Right-hander Aaron Civale (2-1, 2.74 ERA), who has completed six innings in three of his first four starts of the season, concludes the series for the Rays. Civale last pitched on Tuesday, when he took a no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits in six innings of Tampa Bay’s 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Civale was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians ahead of last season’s trade deadline. He is 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees.
Right-hander Luis Gil (0-1, 3.86) hopes he can display better command of the strike zone when he makes his 11th career start on Sunday. Gil has walked 14 in 14 innings across his first three outings. He issued seven free passes in five innings on Monday, also allowing three runs and three hits while taking a loss against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Gil is facing the Rays for the first time.
–Field Level Media
