ST. PETERSBURG – Venezuelan Rougned Odor broke the tie in the 10th inning with his first unstoppable for the Yankees, Colombian Gio Urshela hit a home run and towed three runs and New York came back on Sunday to avoid a weekend sweep with an 8-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Urshela connected on a two-run homer in the third inning. His fourth hit of the game, a single with two outs in the 10th inning against Collin McHugh (0-1), helped the Yankees break away from the American League champions, who were close to completing a sweep of three games before conceding the tiebreaker in the eighth episode.
Odor was in the lineup for the first time since he was acquired in an exchange with the Texas Rangers. The Venezuelan went 4-0 before sticking a single in center field instead of 3-2 to break the 4-4 tie. Dominican Gary Sanchez continued the attack with a single producer before Urshela crowned in front of the Rays, who allowed the fourth run of the inning in an error.
Cuban Aroldis Chapman (1-0) struck out three in a ninth inning and Dominican Albert Abreu pulled out the last three outs.
For the Yankees, Colombian Urshela 5-4 with a run scored-three produced. The Dominican Sánchez 3-1 with a pair of goals and a push. The Venezuelans Gleyber Torres 4-1 with scored and driven, and Odor 5-1 with a scored and a tow.
For the Rays, Cubans Randy Arozarena 5-1 with one scored and two drives, and Yandy Diaz 3-1 with scored. Dominicans Manuel Margot 4-1, and Willy Adames 4-0.