ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Yankees stood at the third baseline and watched as the Rays unveiled the East American and American League title flags before Friday’s game, but Aaron Hicks said that in terms of Yankees, last year was in the past.
“It’s something we want to do,” Hicks said. “They won last year. This is a new year. We hope to get out there and dominate. “
The plan began with a bad start, as the Yankees faced Tampa Bay for the first time this season and were trapped in a 10-5 loss at Tropicana Field to begin a six-game road trip to Florida against two rivals in the division, the Rays and moved to the Blue Jays.
Corey Kluber was hit, the victim of some poor defense on the field, and the Yankees offense fell silent outside a quick four-run burst in the third.
Kluber, in his second outing with the Yankees after losing most of the last two seasons, gave up a couple of unbeaten runs in the second inning and three wins in the third.
With Gio Urshela out of a reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, DJ LeMahieu was forced to play third, with Tyler Wade in second. Both players had a hard second inning. LeMahieu made a throwing error on a Yandy Diaz ground field with a single out and Wade let a ball from Joey Wendle hit him so he ruled alone. He sent Diaz to third and scored with a Willy Adames double on the right, just over a Clint Frazier glove jump. Brett Phillips continued with a sacrifice fly to center to score Wendle and make it 2-0.
LeMahieu managed to correct Mike Zunino’s high pop-up, diving near the mound, to finish off the entrance.
The Yankees tied the game in the third.
After Rays head coach Rich Hill retired from the first eight Yankees he faced, Wade got a two-field single. Wade would have easily scored LeMahieu’s double in the middle, but had to stay in third place when he bounced over the center wall of the field. Giancarlo Stanton made a nice rush in the right side, but managed to tip the ball to a corner.
They put themselves in front of a hitter later when Hicks threw a 1-2 throw into the left seats for his first home game of the season, as the Yankees advanced. 4-2.
It didn’t last long, as Kluber hesitated at the back of the entrance.
The first three batters arrived, with Randy Arozarena’s single on the right leading into a run. Kluber finished with Brandon Lowe, but walked with Diaz and his day was over after 62 pitches.
Nick Nelson came in and immediately conceded a two-run double to Wendle as the Rays went up again, 5-4.
Lightning piled up in the quarter against Nelson, who loaded the bases without anyone. He hit Arozarena, but Lowe cleared the bases with a double to center left, extending Tampa Bay’s lead to 8-4. Diaz followed with a single to score Lowe.
Lucas Luetge lasted three innings in relief, saving at least some of the Yankees’ towers.
As the lightning continued to fill his lead, the Yankees’ offense disappeared. After Hicks’ homer, Hill withdrew the last 10 batters he faced, giving only four straight hits in the fourth.
He continued a series of hits for the Rays over the Yankees. Tampa Bay won eight of the 10 regular season games and then eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs in five games in the ALDS.