The Offense Gets The Job Done In The Opener Against Tampa Bay As New York Continues Their Chase For The Postseason

Every team in the majors has the same goal around this time in September and that's to get to the postseason and New York continued to head that way as they beat Tampa Bay in the opener of a three game series Monday.

Evan Longoria had joked that there is no such thing as a "neutral site" when playing against the Yankees, whose followers always seem to travel quite well. Todd Frazier's three-run homer highlighted a five-run fourth inning as the Bombers made the Interborough trip a memorable one, powering a 5-1 victory over the Rays on Monday evening at Citi Field. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

In the first of three games relocated to Queens by Hurricane Irma, right-hander Jake Odorizzi held New York hitless through the first three innings before requiring 51 pitches to record two outs in the fourth, a barrage highlighted by Frazier's 24th homer of the season and his eighth since being traded to the Yankees. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

"It just seems like when you come to the ballpark right now, something good is going to happen," Frazier said. "It could be any guy, and it has been. The pitching has been there, the hitting has been there, and we're clicking right now at the right time." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

With their eighth victory in 11 games, the Yankees moved within three games of the idle Red Sox in the American League East race. Tampa Bay fell four games behind the Twins for the second AL Wild Card; the Yankees hold the first AL Wild Card spot. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

In just the second game ever played at Citi Field using a designated hitter -- the 2013 All-Star Game was the first -- CC Sabathia navigated just 4 1/3 innings of one-run, six-hit ball before yielding to the bullpen. David Robertson hurled a career-high 2 2/3 innings to pick up the victory in relief. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

I feel good. I just tried to throw a lot of strikes," Robertson said. "The defense was playing great behind me, the guys were making unbelievable plays. As long as I kept getting soft contact, I was happy." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

Tampa Bay's Adeiny Hechavarria had three hits, finishing a homer shy of the cycle. The Yankees have won nine of 14 contests against the Rays this season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

"We lost the game in one inning," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "The fourth inning was the game, basically. Both offenses from that point were fairly shut down afterwards." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

Odorizzi thought he might have been out of the fourth inning when Matt Holliday smashed a two-out grounder to third base, but the ball skipped past Trevor Plouffe for a two-base error, and Gary Sanchez chugged all the way home from first base. Jacoby Ellsbury reached on a catcher's interference error that prolonged the inning and Odorizzi was never able to record that final out. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

Once, what can you do? Twice, you don't know what to do," Odorizzi said. "I knew from that point on. They scored two runs, it was a 2-1 game, and two guys were on that shouldn't be. I was trying to limit the damage the best I could." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

Sabathia escaped trouble in the third inning after a pair of infield hits, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi did not permit the left-hander any extra leeway in the fifth. Sabathia was yanked after 88 pitches with a four-run lead in favor of Robertson, who struck out Longoria looking and Lucas Duda swinging to strand two runners. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

"[Sabathia] was not sharp tonight. He had to battle all night," Girardi said. "He threw a lot of pitches, and Longoria has probably been the guy who has hurt him as much as anyone in the game. I knew I had Robbie for multiple innings; didn't know I was going to go 2 2/3, but he kept his pitch count down, which allowed me to do that. I kind of felt like that was the game right there, so I went to him." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/253727858/yankees-score-5-in-4th-to-beat-rays-at-citi/

With the win, New York improves to  78-65  and is now three games back of Boston who is leading the American League East with a record of 81-62. while Tampa Bay drops to 71-74 on the season. New York and Tampa Bay will continue their three game series tonight at Citi Field which is home to the New York Mets. Right -hander Sonny Gray who has a record of 9-9 with a 3.22 earn run average will start for New York. Gray, shut out the Orioles on Thursday, The first time he's held an opponent scoreless and just the second time fewer than two runs in a start since being traded from the A's to the Yankees. He will take on Tampa Bay left-hander Blake Snell who has a record of 3-6 with a 4.36 earn run average. Snell did not feel like he was using his fastball as well as he wanted in Wednesday's no-decision against the Twins. He lasted just four innings, snapping a career long streak of five  straight starts with 6 IP or longer.   "according to   https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-rays/2017/09/12/492264#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492264

First pitch is set for 7:10 pm. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network,  Yes, and Fox Sports Sun. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-rays/2017/09/12/492264#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492264