This was one of those games you would like to forget. The sixth inning was absolutely brutal for the Rays in the game against the Yankees this afternoon as New York scored seven runs in the inning to put the game away and earn a 13-5 win.
The sixth inning was particularly bad for the Rays has they committed two errors and the ball was not bouncing their way. The worst game the Rays have played this season.
Charlie Morton had one of his worst outings of the season lasting just four innings giving up four runs and walking four.
The Rays and Yankees had battled all weekend with the Yankees winning a 4-3 game on Friday night after a brief rain delay.
The Rays had a 3-1 lead going into the ninth inning and Jose Alvarado could not keep the Yankees in check as they scored three runs for the win.
Two solo home runs by Brandon Lowe and Austin Meadows on Saturday gave the Rays a 2-1 win in 11 innings. Blake Snell was the starter and he was not particularly sharp but good enough to hold the Yankees to one run through six innings and then turned it over to the bullpen.
Jose Alvarado was very good on Saturday closing out the Yankees in the 11th inning to earn his fifth save of the season.
The Rays are 2-4 against the Yankees this season and all the games have been close and very competitive except for the game this afternoon.
The Yankees have made one more pitch, gotten one more hit, and made one more play as they have taken over first place from the Rays in the AL East.
The Rays had been in first place all season and you have a feeling that this battle with the Yankees is just beginning and will go back and forth all season.
Even with all the injuries the Yankees have had, the Rays are still coming up a bit short when measured against the Yankees.
Against the Yankees and Red Sox, the Rays are 4-7 on the season with 13 games left with the Yankees and 14 against the Red Sox.
The Rays had been hit hard by the injury bug this last month as their two catchers Mike Zunino and Michael Perez will be out until late June with injuries. The Ryas acquired 39 year old Eric Kratz from the Giants over the weekend and last week traded for Travis D’Aurand from the Dodgers.
Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow is also out till late June with a fore arm issue and who knows when third basemen Matt Duffy will make his season debut. He is currently in a rehab assignment at Class A Port Charlotte.
The Rays will host the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers for a brief two game set Tuesday and Wednesday with Clayton Kershaw pitching for the Dodgers on Tuesday.
This should be a great two game series and a chance to see two of the best teams in baseball.
You only hope more than 8,000 will be at Tropicana Field each night for this inter league matchup.
