CC Sabathia did his part, starting and going 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. But he left trailing 3-2: Edwin Encarnacion and DJ LeMahieu had hit solo home runs, but the Rays had gotten just a little bit more out of their offense.
Nestor Cortes got into a little trouble in the 7th inning, and Aaron Boone had to bring David Hale on to bail him out. Hale pitched the top of the 8th inning as well. But going into the bottom of the 8th, it was still 3-2 to the Montreal Bay Expo Rays.
The Yankees didn't need a particularly big inning, but, Cliche Alert: It wouldn't hurt. Well, it would hurt the Rays. Gleyber Torres began the proceedings by drawing a walk on Rays pitcher Colin Poche. Cliche Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety.
At first, it looked like Poche might get away with it, as he struck Brett Gardner out, and got LeMahieu to fly out to center. But here came Da Judge. Aaron Judge took Poche deep to the opposite field, and that gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead.
The proceedings were far from over. Luke Voit singled. Gio Urshela was sent in to pinch-run for him. Gary Sanchez doubled, but Urshela couldn't score. Encarnacion was intentionally walked.
Didi Gregorius was up. The Yankee Stadium sound-effects guy, whoever that is, played the chorus to The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," and the fans sang along: "Oh, whoa-oh-a-oh, whoa!" To an Arsenal fan like me, that's "Oh, Santi Cazorla!" But it fits Didi: "Oh, Didi Gregor-yus!"
Encarnacion had been intentionally walked to load the bases, and, to set up a play at any base. Didi made sure that there would be a play at no base, cranking a 406-foot no-doubt-about-er into the right-center field Bleachers. This was not a short-porcher. Call the Amsterdam Deli, it's a Dutch Grand Salami. With Curaçaoan spices.
Boone left Hale in to pitch the 9th, but he let a couple of runners on, and Zack Britton was called on to get the last 2 outs, and he did. Yankees 8, Rays 3. WP: Hale (3-0). No save. LP: Poche (2-3).
The Boston Red Sox lost, so, as things currently stand, the Yankees lead the American League Eastern Division by 6 games over the Rays, and the Red Sox trail by 10 -- in the loss column, respecively, that's 8 for Tampa Bay, and 11 for Boston. The Yankees have the best record in the AL, and among National League teams, only the Los Angeles Dodgers have a better record.
The series continues tonight. Domingo German starts against Yonny Chirinos.
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