The opener was billed as a battle of aces: Domingo German vs. Tyler Glasnow. It didn't work out that way: German only went 5 innings, and Glasnow had to leave in the 6th with an arm strain. He was put on the Injured List this morning.
Fortunately for German, the Yankees got to Glasnow early. DJ LeMahieu opened the game by grounding to 3rd base and reaching 1st on an error. Luke Voit drew a walk, and Gary Sanchez singled to load the bases with nobody out. Glasnow struck Clint Frazier out, but with Gleyber Torres up, Glasnow threw a pitch in the dirt, and catcher Nick Ciuffo couldn't handle it, and LeMahieu scored. Torres singled home Voit to make it 2-0.
The Rays came back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th, but the Yankees responded in the top of the 6th. Sanchez and Frazier singled. Glasnow struck Torres out, but that was when he had to leave the game. Emilio Pagan came in to pitch, and Miguel Andujar singled to load the bases. Gio Urshela was, once again, the hero, singling home Sanchez and Frazier to give the Yankees the lead.
Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman each pitched a scoreless inning. Let's see... KOBC? No, that sounds like a Western U.S. radio station. Kottabrittchap? No, that sounds like a Thai boxer. Tommy, Adam, Zack, Aroldis... Got it: TAZA!
Okay, I don't expect the acronym TAZA to catch on. At any rate, the final score was Yankees 4, Rays 3. WP: German (7-1, the 1st AL pitcher to 7 wins this season). SV: Chapman (9). LP: Glasnow (6-1). The Yankees move to half a game back, 1 back in the all-important loss column. We are now breathing down the Rays' necks.
The series continues tonight. CC Sabathia starts against Ryan Stanek. Come on you Bombers! Let's take 1st place tonight!