📌 Join the BPCrew Chapter in your city and meet up with more Yankees fans! 👉 CLICK HERE
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 15: Shortstop Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees gets the forced out on Logan Forsythe #11 of the Tampa Bay Rays at second base then turns the double play with the throw to first base for the out on Asdrubal Cabrera #13 to end the first inning of a game on September 15, 2015 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Didi Gregorius; Logan Forsythe

Series Recap: Yankees at Rays

In what could have been a trap series, the Yankees took two out of three to give them some much needed momentum heading into one of their biggest series of the month against the Mets. They used some surprisingly good pitching to beat the quite pedestrian Tampa Bay Rays.

While their pitching was good, they were nearly no-hit in the first game. Erasmo Ramirez did not allow a hit until Carlos Beltran led off the 8th with a single. Ramirez lasted 7.2 innings while allowing just that one hit in what ended up being a dominant start. It didn’t end in a win, however, as Brad Boxberger blew a save in the 9th. He allowed 4 runs, with the big blow being a Slade Heathcott 3-run bomb. Alex Rodriguez doubled just a few batters before to tie the game at 1. They pulled out a win despite only garnering 4 hits.

It seemed that the Rays would win up victorious in the 8th inning. Logan Forsythe ripped an RBI double to left field to score Mike Mathook off of Justin Wilson to give his team an uplifting 1-0 lead. This was after CC Sabathia had the finest outing of his season, going 6.2 innings while allowing just 3 hits in a start that looked like the ace that was signed to that big contract all those years ago. The Rays couldn’t capitalize on the 3 Yankee errors in the game and managed only 6 hits.

The middle game was a letdown. Jake Odorizzi pitched pretty well against the pinstripes, allowing 3 hits and 3 runs in 6 innings while striking out 5. He did allow 2 homers, one each to A-Rod and Gregory Bird. That would be it offensively for the Yankees, however, as they could scrap together two hits in the final three innings while trying to climb back from a moderate deficit. Again the Yankees managed less than 6 hits, this time being held to just 5. Bird led the way with the 2 RBI that came from his dinger.

Adam Warren, in a rare start, didn’t pitch as he did when he was the top performer of the staff until he was relegated to bullpen duties. He allowed just 2 runs in 4 innings, but gave up 6 hits. The bullpen did not help him out, as they allowed 4 of the Rays’ 6 runs, 2 each in the 6th and 8th innings. That ultimately gave Tampa the win. Nick Franklin hit the go-ahead 2-run homer in the 6th inning off of Nick Rumbelow. J.P Arencibia then homered in the 8th off of Bryan Mitchell. Matthew had the big day with three hits and Forsythe contributed two.

The rookies carried the way in the rubber game. Offensively, Greg Bird hit an RBI double and pumped a huge home run into the right field seats to provide 2 clutch runs as the Yankees would go on to win 3-1. Aside from Bird’s contributions, Chase Headley lofted an RBI single into left in the 6th to give the Yankees all of the offense they would need. Bird’s shot put it away with a huge 9th inning insurance run. Bird and Jacoby Ellsbury each had 2 of the Yankees’ 6 hits.

Tampa Bay was held in check by Luis Severino. In 5.2 innings, he gave up 6 hits and 1 run while striking out 7 and walking 1. After that, the Yankees bullpen gave up just 1 run in 3.1 innings. The only blip on his radar was a Steven Souza RBI double in the 6th. James Loney had 3 hits and Souza had 2, but for the most part the Rays’ offense was stymied; hitters struck out 13 times in total in the game.

This series will give the Yankees a huge momentum boost going into a series that could possibly decide their fate. With the Mets and the rest of the AL Wild Card scene playing well, it could be a make or break situation for these Yankees.

Offensive MVP: Greg Bird- two big homers, 3-9 series that also includes a double.

Cold Streak: Brett Gardner– 0-11 in the midst of a prolonged slump.

Pitcher of the Series: CC Sabathia- It almost looked like vintage CC but without the longevity: 6 innings of 3 hit ball.

Mound Misery: Adam Warren- A rare start didn’t last into the 5th inning.