Tampa Bay Rays rout New York Yankees 6-5 in series opener: MLB Update
American League’s Tampa Bay Rays overpowered league rivals New York Yankees 6-5 after a huge sixth inning in first of the three-game series, at the Tropicana Field, on Monday, May 16.
The Rays were facing a 5-1 deficit in the sixth inning, when Sam Fuld launched a much needed two-run homer off Yankees starter, Allan Jones Burnett, to take some pressure off the later batters. The shot worked as Burnett lost his momentum, tossed seven balls,
and a wild pitch before allowing a single to Matt Joyce.
Burnett's confidence seemed to have been hurt as he threw another wild pitch before allowing a 6-5 lead by providing a two-run homer to B J. Upton in the same innings.
"We tried to string together a couple of hits to keep us in the game and it snowballed into five," Upton said. "We expect ourselves to stay in games at all times, so I don't think it makes any difference it was the Yankees."
The pitchers contributed equally for Tampa Bay. Starter David Price had tossed a scoreless sixth inning and the relievers kept this momentum going until the end of the game. Relievers Juan Cruz, Joel Peralta and closer Kyle Farnsworth threw scoreless innings
to secure the Rays’ 24th triumph of the season.
Burnett on the other hand, was brilliant with the ball, allowing just one run on two hits in his first five innings. He has started the game with a hitless inning and received a full back-up from the batter Eduardo Nunez, who piled an early 2-0 lead over
the Rays in second inning. Burnett allowed his first run in the fourth inning to Rays’ Johnny, trimming the lead to 2-1.
However, Curtis Granderson launched the first homer of the game off Price in the fourth inning to widen the lead to 5-1.
"It's a tough line-up," Price said. "They hit good fastballs. I didn't think I had my best stuff tonight, but the team picked me up and that's what it's about."
Burnett then tossed a five-run inning to finish his five and 2/3 innings spell, in which he gave away eight hits and one walk, while took out three batters. This was the pitcher's third loss of the season.
"You've got an aggressive team there and they're going to jump on mistakes," said Burnett.
Although Yankees relievers, Luis Ayala, Boone Logan and closer Joba Chamberlain threw perfect innings, their batters remained helpless against the Rays’ relievers and closer.
The Yankees’ top slugger Alex Rodriguez, entered the plate for four at-bats but failed to make any impression.
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