New York Falls In Opener To Tampa Bay As Evan Longoria Has A Big Night

New York lost their second game in a row Friday as they had their series opener at Tropicana Field against Tampa Bay and dropped to 22-15 on the season while Tampa Bay improved to 22-22.

Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria had a lot to with the outcome  as he tied his career high with a four-hit performance that included a tiebreaking eighth-inning single that helped Tampa Bay edge New York by a score of 5-4. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/231280042/evan-longoria-lifts-rays-vs-holliday-yankees/

Longoria's 102 RBIs against New York are the most of any active player against them, and he added to that tally by driving home Derek Norris with a single to left field off Tyler Clippard. It was Longoria's seventh career four-hit game, coming after he began the game in a 0-for-12 skid. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/231280042/evan-longoria-lifts-rays-vs-holliday-yankees/

Evan Longoria had this to say about his performance "I felt like I was due," Longoria said. "I always feel like I'm due when I'm struggling, but it was a good game to break out in. We needed a win in the division. We're looking up at these guys. It was a good one to take right there. We've had some tough ones against them where we've been close late and haven't been able to come through. Today was a good start." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/231280042/evan-longoria-lifts-rays-vs-holliday-yankees/

New York and Tampa Bay will resume their series Saturday as they play game two of their three -game set at Tropicana Field. Right -hander Masahiro Tanaka will get the start for New York. He has a record of 5-2 with an earn run average of 5.80 to go along with thirty-five strikeouts. He will try to rebound from his rough outing against Houston. Masahiro Tanaka has already surrendered ten homers in forty -five innings and the opponents batting average against him is a hefty  2.91 through eight innings. He will go up against Tampa Bay right-hander Matt Andriese who has a record of 3-1 with a 3.18 earn run average to go along with forty -two strikeouts. He is coming off a win Sunday against Boston where he held them to two runs on four hits while pitching five innings. He faced New York on April 13th where he came away with a no-decision after allowing one run on five hits in six innings. "according to    https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-rays/2017/05/20/490742#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=490742