Yankees at Rays
The New York Yankees took a bit of a circuitous route to their 15th win in 17 outings, but a five-run 10th inning in the series opener allowed the club to build a season-high 7 1/2-game lead atop the American League East. The Yankees aim to continue their torrid stretch on Friday when they play the second contest of their four-game set against the host Tampa Bay Rays.
After New York squandered a ninth-inning lead, DJ LeMahieu had a two-run single in the 10th and fellow All-Star Gary Sanchez followed two batters later with a mammoth three-run homer into the second deck in Thursday's 8-4 victory. The Yankees have won eight of 10 meetings with the Rays this season, averaging 6.0 runs and belting 15 homers while recording a 2.70 ERA as opposed to Tampa Bay's 5.08 ERA in the series. Austin Meadows had a double and a single on Thursday to improve to 11-for-36 with five extra-base hits (two doubles, three homers) versus New York this season. However, the 24-year-old is just 2-for-9 with a homer against Friday starter Masahiro Tanaka.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (5-5, 3.74 ERA) vs. Rays LH Brendan McKay (1-0, 0.00)
Tanaka did not enjoy his London experience as the 30-year-old Japanese star allowed six runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a no-decision against Boston. Tanaka has pitched significantly better versus Tampa Bay this season, highlighting a 2-0 mark in three outings on June 17 by tossing a career-best two-hitter with 10 strikeouts for his fourth major league shutout. Tanaka boasts a 4-2 record with a 1.29 ERA in seven starts against the Rays since July 28, 2017 -- including a three-hit shutout on July 24, 2018.
McKay made quite the major league debut on Saturday as the 23-year-old retired the first 16 batters he faced before exiting after allowing one hit over six shutout innings in a 5-2 victory over Texas. Selected fourth overall in the 2017 draft, McKay posted a 6-0 mark with a 1.22 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 13 appearances (66 2/3 innings) split between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. McKay became the fourth player since 1913 to begin his career with a start as a pitcher and a non-pitcher within his first two games after going 0-for-4 versus Baltimore on Monday.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York 2B Gleyber Torres was added to the AL All-Star team as a replacement for Tampa Bay IF Brandon Lowe, who was placed on the injured list with a bruised right shin.
2. Rays RF Avisail Garcia has six hits, seven RBIs and three runs scored in his last six contests.
3. Yankees OF Brett Gardner has six hits, four RBIs and four runs scored in his last six games.