PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Randy Arozarena had a home run and four RBIs, Yandy Diaz hit a leadoff shot and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 7-2 on Saturday.
Arozarena hit a three-run home run in the third inning off Nestor Cortes (1-4), putting the Rays ahead 4-2. The 2023 All-Star has struggled this season, going just 2-for-3 with an average of just .154, but he has advanced four times in his past eight games.
Aurora reaches Florida during solar storm
Diaz hit a home run on Cortes’ first pitch of the game. Diaz and Arozarena hit three-run doubles in the seventh inning.
Zach Littell (2-2) allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings, and the Rays returned to .500 with a 20-20 record.
Rays closer Pete Fairbanks returned from missing 19 games with a nerve-related hand issue and went 1-2-3 with one strikeout in nine innings.
Anthony Volpe hit a two-run hit in the second inning, and the Yankees suffered their second loss in eight games.
New York slugger Juan Soto was unable to reach base for the second consecutive day, the sixth time this season. In the seventh inning, a 404-foot, 167.5 mph drive with two on and two out caught the center field wall and nearly gave the Yankees the lead.
Five people on boat in Tampa Bay rescued by Coast Guard within 3 hours
Cortez pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing 5 hits and 4 runs.
Cortez and Littell were teammates in High-A and Double-A in the Yankees organization in 2017.
-
Zach Littell of the Tampa Bay Rays throws during the bottom of the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) -
Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a solo home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortez in the bottom of the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Florida. AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) -
New York Yankees second baseman Oswaldo Cabrera hits Tampa Bay Rays running back after attempting to advance on Isaac Paredes’ flyout in the bottom of the first inning of a baseball game in St. Paul, Saturday, May 11, 2024. -Tagged out Arozarena (56) at second base. Petersburg, Florida. Referee Quinn Walcott looks on. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
For Friday night’s game, 2B Brandon Lowe (right oblique strain) was removed from Triple-A Durham for precautionary reasons.
“I think what was expressed was that he didn’t trust it,” manager Kevin Cash said.
It was Lowe’s third consecutive injury-plagued season since hitting 39 home runs in 2021.
LHP Brendan McKay (elbow) has been placed on the 60-day injured list from Triple-A Durham. The former two-way player, who was selected fourth overall in the 2017 draft, battled injuries and pitched in just 19 games to start the 2020 season.
Rays LHP Tyler Alexander (1-1, 4.96 ERA) will be the starter or the opening pitcher.
Visit WFLA for the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video.
