The New York Yankees fell to the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2, in the series opener on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. New York’s lead in the American League East is down to 3 1/2.
Frankie Montas started on the hill for the Yankees and allowed four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings while walking four and striking out four. Lucas Lueteg and Ryan Weber had scoreless appearances out of the bullpen.
Aaron Judge plated New York’s first run with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kyle Higashioka crushed his eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth to cut the Rays’ lead to two. The Yankees had an opportunity to tie the game as Gleyber Torres came to the plate with two outs, but he lined out to right field to end the game.
Jameson Taillon will get the ball on Saturday in the second game of this three-game series. The first pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].