Yankees drop second straight to Rays

Going into the third game of the four game series on Wednesday night, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays had each won a game a piece and both were looking to take the series lead. The Yankees did what they do best and took an early lead in the first inning, but the Rays were able to get things together and take the lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back taking the 3-2 win.

Nate Karns (ERA 3.77) took the start for the Rays and the Yankees were able to score two runs in the first. Back-to-back walks by Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner put runners on first and second. A RBI single by Mark Teixeira then scored one run and a RBI single by Brain McCann sent the second run home for a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Adam Warren (ERA 4.50) took the mound for the Yankees and the second batter up Steven Souza Jr. hit his sixth homer of the season on a fly ball to center. Warren would get out of the inning but in the bottom of the second, the Rays would strike again.

Logan Forsythe hit his tenth double of the season on a line drive to center to start off the inning. Asdrubal Cabrera then hit his seventh double of the season, which would also be his 1,000th career hit, to send Forsythe home to tie the game. A RBI single by Joey Butler on a fly ball to right field then put the Rays up 3-2.

Neither the Rays or Yankees would score again as both pitchers seemed to settle down.

Warren would go seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs; striking out seven batters. The Yanks’ only other pitcher would be closer Andrew Miller who continued his impressive work with a clean eighth inning by striking out the side.

Karns worked just five innings allowing seven hits and two runs; striking out six. Xavier Cedeno (ERA 2.16) pitched the sixth inning and one out in the seventh with just one hit allowed and was then relieved by Brandon Gomes (ERA 2.13) who finished out the seventh with a hit and two strikeouts. Kevin Jepsen (ERA 2.45) took eighth inning duties allowing a run and Brad Boxberger (ERA 1.29) closed out the game by striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.

Karns advances to (3-1) on the season as Boxberger earned his tenth save of the season.

Warren was charged with the loss and falls to (2-2).

The Rays are now just two games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings as they go to the fourth game of the series on Thursday.

Next Up:

RHP Chase Whitley (3.06, 1-1) will got to the hill for the Yankees in the final game of the series as the Rays send RHP Erasmo Ramirez (8.38, 0-1) to start.

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