New York Sweeps Tampa Bay In The Doubleheader

After Wednesday nights game was rained out New York and Tampa Bay had to play a doubleheader and game one of the doubleheader didn’t come without some fireworks from New York manager Aaron Boone.

- It is possible, as Aaron Judge suggested earlier this week, that the Yankees would not be in first place if not for Gio Urshela’s presence. The hot-hitting infielder did his part to help tighten that grip on Thursday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

One of the Yankees’ biggest surprises of the season, Urshela slugged his ninth homer as part of a three-RBI performance, helping to lead New York to a 6-2 victory over the Rays in the first game of a single-admission doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

"He continues to be huge for us," said manager Aaron Boone, who was ejected in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes. "Those are big hits, obviously. [Urshela played] more good defense. He continues to be an impact player for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

New York’s lead in the American League East now stands at seven games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

The long day at the ballpark began on an inauspicious note for the Yanks, as Domingo Germán surrendered back-to-back homers to Austin Meadows and Yandy Diaz to open the game. The right-hander settled in to complete six innings, permitting only two other hits, and he joined the Rangers’ Lance Lynn as the only 12-game winners in the Majors this year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

“I wanted to focus and try to get out of that inning as soon as possible,” German said through an interpreter. “I wanted to keep pitching deep in the game. I wanted to kind of forget about that and execute pitches.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

Urshela tied the score with a two-run homer off Yonny Chirinos in the second inning. Two batters later, Boone was ejected by home-plate umpire Brennan Miller, fireworks that were set off when Brett Gardner was rung up on a called third strike and the bench continued to bark through the first pitch of DJ LeMahieu’s at-bat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

“I loved it,” German said. “He went out there, and he had a good reason to go out there and fight for us. Personally, I fed off that energy. It gave me a boost to concentrate and go out there and do my job, and try to get this victory for him because he went out there and fought for us. I felt that it was my responsibility to go back out there and return the favor.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

Gary Sánchez and Luke Voit collected run-scoring hits in the fifth inning, then Urshela recorded his third RBI of the game with a double off Chirinos, who allowed five runs (four earned) over five innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

Aaron Hicks extended the Yanks’ lead in the sixth inning with his ninth homer of the year, a solo shot to the second deck in right field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

Boone does not believe his outburst is responsible for the victory. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

“I feel like we always play fired up and inspired,” he said. “I don’t necessarily think anything like that. We came out focused today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-three-rbis-for-yanks-against-rays

As for game two of the doubleheader.

The second year manager Aaron Boone kept his cool while his team swept the doubleheader by posting a 5-1 victory that completed a doubleheader sweep of the Rays at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

New York’s advantage in the AL East has swelled to eight games, just a half-game shy of its largest lead of the year, as it improved to 13-0-1 in its last 14 home series. The Yankees have just two games remaining against the Rays, whom they will not see again until the second-to-last series of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

"These are big wins," Boone said. "With the team on your heels, they count as a kind of double in a way. We’re trying to win the division, so to go win three out of four and sweep a doubleheader, that’s big." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

After the first game, in which Domingo Germán became the Majors’ second 12-game winner, the pitchers maintained control to move the Yankees (62-33) a season-high 29 games over .500. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

"These were hard-fought games," Aaron Judge said. "They are going out 110 percent, we’re going out there 110 percent. They got a lead on us early twice, and we just fought back. It just shows how mentally strong this team is; no matter what the score is, if they jump out early on us, it’s a long ballgame, and we have a chance to come back." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

New York improved to 8-0 in games for which righty Chad Green has been used as an opener, though he needed a high-wire act to keep the Rays off the board in the first inning. A single, a walk and a hit batsman loaded the bases with none out, but he escaped by retiring the next three men -- two via strikeout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

"The guys behind me pitched really well, and the offense has shown up on every bullpen day," Green said. "It seems every time I go out there, the guys pitch really well." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

Green, Nestor Cortes and Luis Cessa combined to limit Tampa Bay to one run and five hits over 7 2/3 innings, with Cessa logging his first win of the season behind 3 1/3 scoreless innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

"Once again, our pitching was great today," Brett Gardner said. "It's a long day of baseball, but we got the results we wanted." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

Voit put the Yankees on the board with his 18th home run, a solo shot off starter Charlie Morton. It snapped a 17-game homerless streak for Voit, whose last long ball cleared the fence on June 14, against the White Sox, prior to his stint on the injured list stint for an abdominal strain. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

"It's hard to believe that my last home run was in Chicago," Voit said. "Injuries are hard to come back from. Sometimes you try to do too much, and I think that's what I did for the last five or six games." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

Morton cruised through five frames but lost command of the strike zone in the Bombers’ four-run sixth, balking in the go-ahead run as he halted mid-windup on a pitch. Morton then surrendered a two-run single to Didi Gregorius, and Andrew Kittredge issued a bases-loaded walk to Mike Tauchman. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

"Now we're up eight games. That's huge for us," Voit said. "I think that's our 12th win against those guys. To do it against a Cy Young candidate right now [in Morton] is pretty impressive. We grinded it out, up and down the lineup. It was a big team win tonight." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-doubleheader-from-rays

While New York swept the doubleheader Tampa Bay lost back to back games.

The Rays came to New York hoping to cut down on the Yankees’ American League East lead, which stood at six games before the four-game series began on Monday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

But after they dropped both games of Thursday's doubleheader -- and three of four overall -- following a 5-1 loss in the nightcap, the Rays have lost 15 of their last 16 series in the Bronx and leave New York trailing by eight games in the division, with just two head-to-head matchups left against the Yankees this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

With the Rays looking for a series split, they turned to right-hander Charlie Morton, who has been their best pitcher this season, but the Yankees were able to get to him with a four-run sixth inning. Morton allowed five runs over 5 2/3 innings and allowed three of his four free passes in the sixth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

“It’s been frustrating for us against these guys here,” said catcher Mike Zunino. “We felt really good with Charlie on the mound in Game 2 and we felt like we played good. Maybe some lapses here and there, but we have to regroup, and we have Chicago when we get home. And obviously Boston is always a tough matchup, so we have to refocus and come out ready to go [on Friday]. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

Nate Lowe provided the only offense for Tampa Bay in the second game with an RBI double in the third inning that scored Tommy Pham from first base. The Rays had a key opportunity with the bases loaded and nobody out in the first inning but were unable to get any runs across against Yankees opener Chad Green. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

“That’s the story,” said manager Kevin Cash about the missed chance in the first inning. “We have gotten to the point this season where we’ve talked about making the most of opportunities, and we’re just not getting it done, and it’s putting all kinds of pressure on our pitching staff. … It’s challenging.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

Playing the Yankees has been an issue this season for the Rays, and this four-game set was certainly no different. Tampa Bay won the opening game thanks to a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth inning by Travis d'Arnaud, but then lost three consecutive games. The Rays had a lead at some point in all three losses. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

Tampa Bay has now lost 12 of the 17 matchups against New York this season, with the majority being close and decided late. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

Let’s take a look at how the Rays have matched up on both sides of the ball against the Yankees in 2019. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

Offense

Tampa Bay has held a lead in 14 of those 17, but has often struggled to tack on insurance runs when the opportunity presents itself. The Rays went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in both games on Thursday and finished the four-game series hitting .042 with RISP. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

With just three runs combined in the doubleheader, Tampa Bay has scored just 50 runs against New York this season, averaging 2.9 runs per game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

“We just weren’t able to tack on when we needed to, and it just seems to be the opposite for them,” Zunino said. “They’ve been able to push across that insurance run when they needed it, and we just haven’t been able to do that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

Pitching

Rays pitching has been excellent this season, but the staff has struggled all season against a potent Yankees lineup, allowing 32 home runs in 17 games. Other opponents have hit just 70 home runs in 82 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

The staff has also struggled to hold onto leads, especially late. New York has scored six runs or more in the eighth inning or later three times over the last eight games. In the 17 games between the two clubs, Tampa Bay's staff has a 5.19 ERA, the highest against any team. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

“They’re a good team, so it shows up,” Cash said. “That’s what good teams do, and they’re going to make the most of every little opportunity they’re presented, and they’ve certainly done that to date against us.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lose-more-ground-to-yankees-in-division

New York will now welcome DJ Lemahieu and Adam Ottavino’s former team Colorado to the Bronx starting Friday night for a three game series.