The Yankees completed the first leg of their longest road trip of the season with some slumbering lumber, the bats quiet behind Jameson Taillon in a 9-1 loss to the Rays on Thursday evening at Tropicana Field.
New York’s four-game winning streak was snapped as the offense was stifled by 41-year-old left-hander Rich Hill, who dotted his fastball and curveball to blank the Bombers and extend his personal scoreless innings streak to 17 2/3 innings.
Hill, who pitched briefly for the Yankees in 2014, walked three and struck out nine over 6 2/3 innings of three-hit ball.
Taillon struggled with his location, permitting four runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings. Yandy Díaz laced a two-run single in the first inning and Austin Meadows slugged a two-run homer in the third inning off Taillon. Twelve of the 20 runs that Taillon has surrendered this season have come via home runs.
Michael King’s season-opening 13 1/3-inning scoreless streak was snapped in the sixth inning by Randy Arozarena’s three-run homer.
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Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].