The Tampa Bay Rays (6-7) defeated the New York Yankees (8-5) 5-3 on Friday night at Tropicana Field. The win snapped a Rays losing skid at two games, and opened the series against their AL-East rivals with a win.
After the Rays fell behind 2-0 in the first, Yandy Diaz hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to start the game over 2-2. The Rays broke the tie in the second inning, before adding two runs in the sixth as insurance en route to a 5-3 win.
Steven Matz (3-1, 3.94) got the start and allowed two earned runs on two hits in his five innings of work in which he struck out seven and walked two. Bryan Baker worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.
The Rays will now try to win the middle game of the three-game series against the Yankees on Saturday afternoon. First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 6:10 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 5:30 PM on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES