New York Suffers Setback Against Tampa Bay Before The All-Star Break

Instead of winning the series against Tampa Bay New York had to settle for a split of the four game series before heading into the all-star break.

It doesn’t get much better than what James Paxton brought to the table on Sunday afternoon. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

The Yankees left-hander struck out 11 Rays during the first-half finale at Tropicana Field, his most since back-to-back 12-K outings in mid-April. He scattered seven hits, didn’t walk a batter and held Tampa Bay scoreless after the first inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

He also deserved a much better fate during the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay, but New York was only able to muster a Brett Gardner homer in the final game of the four-game set, which the two clubs split. The Yankees continue to control the American League East despite the loss, with a 6 1/2-game lead over the Rays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“We’re in a good spot,” Aaron Judge said. “We’re in first place, and it’s our goal to win our division, first off, so to be in first place at the break is a start. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“We’ve just got to have guys rest up, let guys enjoy the All-Star Game and then get ready to make something happen.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Paxton took a moment to gain his footing in the first inning, and that ended up being the difference in the game. Tampa Bay opened the contest with consecutive doubles -- the second of which would have been a single had there been someone covering second base for center fielder Aaron Hicks to throw the ball to -- and then added a third consecutive hit with a single. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

With runners at the corners, Avisail Garcia’s groundout scored the runner from third -- who should’ve been at second -- before Paxton locked in to fan the next two Rays. Once he got a taste of the day, Paxton slashed through the Rays’ lineup with relative ease, completing his fourth game of the season with 20 or more swings-and-misses.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Paxton peaked in his final inning by striking out three consecutive batters after a double and a single to open the frame put runners on the corners. He punctuated his rise with his last two pitches, which hit 98.2 and 96.9 mph on the radar gun, and pounded his glove emphatically after the final strikeout, issuing a triumphant roar on the way to the dugout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“The first few batters there, I gave up some hits, unfortunately some runs that we couldn’t overcome today,” Paxton said. “I think after that, I settled in and threw the ball pretty well. Probably the best stuff I’ve had in the last little bit, so that was encouraging going into the second half.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Unfortunately, the first-inning defensive gaffe was a small mistake magnified by the fact that Rays starter Charlie Morton doled out much of the same treatment to the Yankees as Paxton did to the Rays. The Tampa Bay right-hander fanned 10, gave up five hits, walked one and allowed just Gardner’s homer in the second during his 5 2/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

The Yankees’ Nos. 1-5 hitters finished 1-for-19 with 11 strikeouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“Obviously, [Morton] is about as tough as you’re going to come up against,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We had a good opportunity in one inning … and we’re not able to score, and not able to really mount much the rest of the way. That’s going to happen sometimes against these guys. Frustrating, but also it’s a part of it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Gardner’s shot marked his third home run in as many games and his 15th of the season, already just six shy of his career high set in 2017. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

He added a two-out double in the fourth inning and finished with a .467 batting average (7-for-15) for the series that included three homers, five RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. At 106.7 and 106.5 mph, per Statcast, Gardner’s two extra-base hits on Sunday were the hardest-hit balls of the afternoon, and also traveled the farthest. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“Some days, some weeks, I’m pretty good, and other times, I feel kind of lost out there,” Gardner said. “Recently, I’ve obviously been doing better. I’ll just sit down over the break and take things in, evaluate a little bit, look at some video and keep it going.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Gardner has 10 home runs against Tampa Bay since 2016, his most against any team during that stretch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Morton was pulled just prior to Gardner’s third at-bat and for good reason: The Yankees outfielder is 8-for-18 with three homers in his career against the righty, including the postseason. The strategy worked, as Gardner grounded out harmlessly facing lefty Adam Kolarek to end the sixth inning.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

New York didn’t threaten again, but Paxton said that doesn’t mean the Yankees are no longer a threat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“It was a solid first half,” said Paxton. “We overcame some injuries and played really good baseball. We have a good lead on the AL East right now, and we’re going to come back on a mission to go to the postseason and win the World Series.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-strong-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Even with the loss New York is still leading the American League East with a record of 57-31.

Tampa Bay on the other hand was on the other end of the spectrum in the finale before the all-star break.

To wrap up what has largely been a successful first half of the season, Tampa Bay turned to its most reliable starting pitcher in All-Star Charlie Morton, who did what he’s done all year long -- win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

Signed as a free agent over the offseason, Morton pitched a solid 5 2/3 innings, striking out 10 and allowing just one run on five hits and a walk in the Rays’ 2-1 win over the Yankees on Sunday at Tropicana Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

“[Morton] was outstanding, making big pitches to get out of a couple jams,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s got the stuff that’s capable to do that, and to do it against that lineup, which is as good as anybody in baseball, it shows how much he was on today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

With the victory, the Rays split the four-game set with the Yankees, pulling within 6 1/2 games of first-place New York in the American League East. At 52-39, it’s the fourth-most wins Tampa Bay will take into the break in club history; the team made the playoffs in each of the top three seasons. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

We’ve been really good, we’ve had some tough times here as of late, but we’ve put ourselves in a tremendous position to get out of the break and compete,” Cash said. “I hope that our guys recognize that. This game is not easy, our division is not easy and the American League is not easy, and we have done a lot of good things to put ourselves in the position we are at right now.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

Morton, meanwhile, leads the AL with a 2.32 ERA, and the Rays’ staff with a 10-2 record and 142 strikeouts. The only blemish on his line against New York was a second-inning home run by Brett Garner, who’s homered in three straight games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

“I feel good about my body of work in the first half,” Morton said. “For the most part, I’ve been able to keep the team in games and worked deeper into games the past month. But it’s the first half and you’ve got a long way to go.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

The Rays will look to get back into the rhythm they had been in up until the middle of June, when they largely stood atop the AL East standings. The Yankees seized the division lead on June 15, and Tampa Bay is just 10-12 while New York is 16-4 dating back to that day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

There are encouraging signs, especially as the Rays appear to have re-established some of their momentum through back-to-back wins to finish off the first half after dropping three straight. Overall during its most recent homestand, Tampa Bay went 6-4 against Texas, Baltimore and New York. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

“It’s a much better feeling than the way it was heading,” Cash said. “We went through a tough stretch, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we’re a really good team, played really well in the first half and have stuff we can improve upon in the second half. These two wins certainly help that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

The All-Star break may be exactly what the bullpen needs as well. During the three-game losing streak, the bullpen faltered by giving up 14 earned runs in the ninth inning or later. The Rays are likely to be without José Alvarado for at least a couple of weeks after he sustained a right oblique strain, though they are hopeful to have Diego Castillo return when they open the second half on Friday. Cash hinted that the high-leverage role may end up going to Emilio Pagán in the meantime. Pagan notched the save in Sunday’s win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

“I know that the bullpen has been beaten up a bit lately and we’ve lost some late games, but we’ve got confidence in these guys,” Cash said. “Whatever role it is -- whether it’s Pagan pitching in the sixth inning or the ninth -- we’ve got confidence he can get the job done, and that goes for other guys as well. … There’s a bunch of guys capable of getting big outs.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-leads-rays-to-win-over-yankees

With the win, Tampa Bay improves to 52-39 on the season and is still 6.5 games behind New York in the American League East.

All Major League teams will return to the diamond on Friday to open the second half of the season.