Yankees at Rays
Finally, it was the Tampa Bay Rays coming up with the last clutch hits in the late innings and giving themselves a chance to earn a split in a four-game series against the American League East-leading New York Yankees. The Rays, who dropped the first two games of the series in extra innings before winning in walk-off fashion Saturday, will host the Yankees in Sunday's series finale.
New York looked set to make it to extra innings and grab a third straight win in the series when Aaron Hicks tied the game with a solo homer in the top of the ninth Saturday but Tampa Bay catcher Travis d'Arnaud came up with two outs in the bottom of the frame and belted a walk-off solo blast to give his team a 4-3 triumph. The victory snapped a three-game slide for the Rays and moved them back within 7 1/2 games of the Yankees in the division. New York has not dropped back-to-back games since a three-game slide from June 11-14 and had taken six straight from the Rays before Chad Green faltered in the ninth inning Saturday. Tampa Bay will go for the split behind veteran right-hander Charlie Morton on Sunday while New York counters with lefty James Paxton.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, TBS; YES (New York), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH James Paxton (5-3, 4.09 ERA) vs. Rays RH Charlie Morton (9-2, 2.36)
Paxton is trying to find some consistency and has a chance to post a quality start in back-to-back outings for the first time since April after a solid turn at the New York Mets on Tuesday. The Canada native held the Mets to one run on eight hits and two walks in six innings but did not factor in the decision. Paxton is seeing Tampa Bay for the first time this season but won his lone start against the Rays as a member of the Seattle Mariners in 2018, allowing three runs and striking out 10 in seven innings.
Morton had little trouble with the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, striking out a season-high 12 while scattering one run and four hits across seven innings to earn a win. The 35-year-old, who was named to the AL All-Star team, posted a quality start in each of his last three turns and allowed three or fewer earned runs in 16 of his 18 outings. Morton's shortest outing of the season came at New York on May 19, when he was reached for five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks in four innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka was named to the AL All-Star team Saturday as an injury replacement.
2. Hicks reached base safely in each of his last 12 games.
3. Tampa Bay RH Diego Castillo (shoulder) threw to hitters Saturday and could come off the injured list after the All-Star break.