The Offense Can't Backup Sonny Gray As New York Falls To Tampa Bay For The Second Straight Game

During a 162 regular season every team is going to have their struggles. That is just part of the game and they have to get through it.

For a second consecutive day, the Bronx Bombers were bedeviled by a bevy of Rays bullpen arms. Five Tampa Bay pitchers, clad in throwback Devil Rays uniforms, combined to shut out the Yankees, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

It was another uncharacteristic offensive night for the Yankees, who came into the game leading the Majors in runs per game (5.23), home runs (122) and slugging percentage (.463). New York has scored just one run in its last 25 innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

"We've been hitting the ball hard, but straight at people, and we can't do anything about that," said Didi Gregorius, who went 2-for-4. "All we can do is hit the ball hard and try to find a gap. If they fall, they fall." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

The Yankees, who managed just four hits on the afternoon, had no answers for Tampa Bay's "bullpen day." Rays starter Wilmer Font kept the New York bats in check for 5 2/3 innings, then four relievers followed suit as the Yankees were shut out for just the second time this season. It was also the first time the Yankees lost back-to-back games since May 22-23. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

"Over the course of 162 games, that's going to happen," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "You've just got to keep grinding and come back and have that urgency tomorrow." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

Giancarlo Stanton doubled to lead off the second, then advanced to third on Aaron Hicks' flyout to center. But Font struck out Greg Bird and induced a Miguel Andujar groundout to keep the Yankees off the board. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

Austin Romine then doubled to lead off the third, but didn't advance past second. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

Yankees starter Sonny Gray got off to a rough start for New York but was able to settle down and turn in a respectable performance. Kevin Kiermaier singled to right field to lead off the game, then Jake Bauers brought him in with a double down the left-field line. Consecutive doubles by C.J. Cron and Daniel Robertson to lead off the second and an RBI single by Willy Adames made it a quick three-run deficit for Gray. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

However, Gray would settle down thereafter, retiring the next 15 batters before a solo shot by Adames in the in the seventh ended his day. Gray allowed six hits and four earned runs in the losing effort, striking out seven and walking one. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

"I think everyone in here felt like we were going to win that game, but at the end of the day, it doesn't happen like that every time," Gray said. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Yankees threatened in the top of the fifth after Aaron Judge drew a walk, ending Font's day. Gregorius then chopped an infield single up the middle off Rays reliever Jonny Venters. With two aboard and the tying run at the plate, the Rays brought on fireballer Ryne Stanek to face Stanton. Stanek was able to blow a letter-high, 98.4-mph fastball past the Yankees slugger to end the inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

OUND SMART
Saturday was just the 15th time in 74 games this season that the Yankees did not hit at least one home run, the fewest in the Majors. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Leading off the top of the fourth, Gregorius attempted to check his swing on a 97.2-mph fastball from Font that rode up and in on his hands. Gregorius got just enough wood on the ball to pop it over a leaping Adames and into left field for an accidental single. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

"I was just trying to get something started," he said. "That's all I was thinking about." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

HE SAID IT
"It says June 23 on the [calendar]. ... We're honestly not going to get caught up in that right now." -- Boone, on the Yankees' American League battle vs. the Red Sox "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504

With the loss, New York drops to 50-24 but still leads the American League East by one game over their rival Boston. With the win, Tampa Bay improves to 36-40 and is third in the division. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

UP NEXT
The Yankees turn to righty Domingo German (2-4, 4.77 ERA) on Sunday for their series finale against the Rays at Tropicana Field. German leads all American League rookies in strikeouts this season with 72, including a career-high 10 K's in his last start against Tampa Bay. Matt Andriese is set to serve as the "opener" as the Rays have another bullpen day. Game time is 1:10 p.m. ET "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-solid-but-yankees-blanked-by-rays/c-282557504