Manuel Margot capped a six-run eighth inning with a two-run single and the Tampa Bay Rays capitalized on three errors by the New York Yankees and pulled away for a 9-0 rout Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The result, in the opener of a three-game series, moved the second-place Rays within five games of the American League East-leading Yankees.
Tampa Bay won its fourth straight while improving to 10-2 in its past 12 games. The Rays, who are 15-4 since Aug. 13, are five out for the first time since May 30.
Margot collected three of Tampa Bay’s 11 hits, including two in the eighth when the defending AL East champions turned a 3-0 lead into a blowout.
Yu Chang began the inning’s scoring with an infield single that drove home Margot. Harold Ramirez also scored on the play when reliever Greg Weissert committed a throwing error.
After Anthony Banda issued consecutive bases-loaded walks to Taylor Walls and Yandy Diaz, Margot laced a single to center field to make it 9-0.
The inning ended with the Yankees using utility man Marwin Gonzalez for the final out.
Tampa Bay’s first run came home on David Peralta’s single in the fourth inning that led to the second consecutive error by New York third baseman Josh Donaldson. Christian Bethancourt added a two-run homer in the seventh off New York right-hander Domingo German (2-3) before the Rays busted it open.
The Yankees lost for the fifth time in six games following a five-game winning streak. New York dropped to 18-30 since holding a 15 1/2 game lead following a 12-5 win in Boston on July 8.
New York also lost left fielder Andrew Benintendi to a wrist injury in the third inning.
German allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Tampa Bay’s Jeffrey Springs (7-4) gave up four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings to go along with seven strikeouts and three walks. Springs highlighted his second win over the Yankees in less than three weeks by fanning Giancarlo Stanton to end the third and fifth with two on.
–Field Level Media
