Yanks Start Longest Roadtrip of Season By Beating Rays

Last night, the Yankees began their longest roadtrip of the season: 3 games at Tampa Bay, 3 at Baltimore, and 4 in Texas. And beating the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening game stood to be the right way to get it going.

Jordan Montgomery got the job done, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk, striking out 9. It was a starting pitching performance worthy of being backed by sufficient runs by your hitters.

Aaron Judge hit a home run in the top of the 1st. A single, a walk and 2 passed balls led to another run in the top of the 3rd. The Rays pulled a run back in the bottom of the 3rd, but Gary Sanchez took it back with a home run in the top of the 7th.

Jonathan Loaisiga was brought in to pitch the 7th and the 8th. He struggled in his last couple of appearances. Not this time: He cruised, leading one Yankee Fan on Twitter -- I would credit him, if I knew his real name, but I don't -- to say, "Rays took a trip to Olive Garden, they were just served some nasty Lasgna." (As a former employee of Olive Garden, I can vouch for this.)

Aroldis Chapman was once again a little wild in the 9th, but slammed the door. Yankees 3, Rays 1. WP: Montgomery (2-1). SV: Chapman (8). LP: Luis Patino (1-1).

The series continues tonight. Gerrit Cole starts against Collin McHugh.

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The Yankees were missing 2 coaches due to positive COVID tests. Therefore, it's worth reminding you that following numbers are dependent on no new COVID restrictions -- and, in some cases, on weather:

Hours until the next Arsenal game: 3, this afternoon, at 3:15 PM New York time, away to West London team Chelsea. Arsenal have already gone out of every cup competition, no remaining League game means much, and have clinched their 1st next season not playing in a European tournament in 26 years. Disgraceful.

Days until the next New York Red Bulls game: 3, this Saturday night at 7:30, against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park (formerly PPL Park and Talen Energy Stadium) in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Days until the Red Bulls again play a local rival: See the previous answer.

Days until the next game of the U.S. National Soccer Team: 18, on Sunday, May 30, an international friendly against Switzerland, at Kyburnpark, in St. Gallen, home of FC St. Gallen of the Swiss Super League.

Days until the next Yankees series against the Boston Red Sox begins: 23, on Friday, June 4, at 7:00 PM, at Yankee Stadium II. A little over 3 weeks.

Days until the COVID-delayed Euro 2020 opens: 45, on Friday, June 26. A little over 6 weeks. Games will be played all over Europe, with the Semifinals and the Final at the new Wembley Stadium in London.

Days until the COVID-delayed 2020 Olympics open in Tokyo, Japan: 72, on Friday, July 23. A little over 10 weeks.

Days until the next North London Derby: Unknown. The new Premier League season usually starts on the 2nd Saturday in August. This year, it would be August 14. That would be in 94 days. But Tottenham Hotspur, a.k.a. Spurs, are rarely an early-season opponent for Arsenal, so the game will more likely be in October or November.

Days until the next East Brunswick High School football game: 114, on Friday, September 3, at 7:00 PM, home to arch-rival Old Bridge. Under 6 months.

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge football game: See the previous answer.

Days until the next Rutgers University football game: 115, on Saturday, September 4, at 12:00 noon, home to Temple University.

Days until the New Jersey Devils again play a local rival: Unknown. The regular season is over, and they didn't make the Playoffs. Under normal circumstances, the next regular season would open on the 1st Thursday or the 1st Friday in October, and the Devils 1st game might be against either the New York Rangers, the New York Islanders or the Philadelphia Flyers. But with COVID still being in play, the 2021-22 season could start on time, but cannot yet be presumed to do so. If it does start on the 1st Thursday in October, that's October 7, and that's 148 days.

Days until the next election for Governor of New Jersey and Mayor of New York City: 174, on Tuesday, November 2. Under 6 months.

Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 199, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 27, at 12:00 noon, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Under 7 months.

Days until the 1st Baseball Hall of Fame election for which Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz will be eligible, and we will know for sure whether steroid use keeps a player out, or if it's only perception that does: 258, on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Under 9 months.

Days until the next Winter Olympics open in Beijing, China: 268, on Friday, February 4, 2022. Under 9 months.

Days until the next elections for Congress and for Governor of most States, including New York and Pennsylvania: 545, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Under 2 years, or under 18 months.

Days until the next World Cup opens: 558, on Friday, November 21, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. Under 2 years, or under 19 months.

Days until the next Women's World Cup opens: 789, on Friday, July 10, 2023, jointly held in the neighboring nations of Australia and New Zealand. Under 2 and a half years, or under 26 months.

Days until the next Presidential election: 1,273, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Under 3 1/2 years, or under 42 months.