Arozarena hits tying homer off Díaz in 9th, DeLuca's 2-run triple in 10th lifts Rays over Mets 7-6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a tying homer off Edwin Díaz with two outs in the ninth inning, Jonny DeLuca lined a two-run triple in the 10th and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Mets 7-6 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Automatic runner José Caballero stole third as Jake Diekman (1-1) walked Ben Rortvedt leading off the bottom of the 10th. Both runners scored when DeLuca's line drive got past a diving Harrison Bader in center field.

“I thought that was the right play there,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Bader's try. “He’s one of the best defenders there is. He was aggressive. He thought he had a play and just came up short.”

New York took a 6-5 lead in the top of the 10th when Bader scored on an error by first baseman Yandy Díaz, who was unable to make a clean catch on a low throw after Brandon Nimmo's grounder was deflected by reliever Erasmo Ramírez (1-0).

A slumping Arozarena pulled the Rays even at 5 with a two-out solo homer to left field on a full-count pitch from Edwin Díaz, who had converted 26 consecutive save chances dating to 2022 — the longest active streak in the majors.

“I was trying to throw a slider down and away,” Edwin Díaz said. “I know he was struggling, so I wanted to make a good pitch to see if he would chase."

Arozarena said the previous pitch was a slider, so he was looking for another one. The 2023 All-Star is hitting just .143. He struck out three times in his first four at-bats.

Tampa Bay had lost eight of 10 before the sweep.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit,” Arozaena said through a translator. "It’s good to come out and work hard and stay positive out there. And as you can see, the team really needed it.”

New York has dropped eight straight games at Tropicana Field.

“Tough loss and tough series,” Mendoza said.

Francisco Lindor connected on a two-run homer in the first for the Mets and leads the majors with six multi-RBI games since April 19.

Rays starter Ryan Pepiot exited in the third with a bruised lower left leg after getting hit by Starling Marte’s 107.5 mph line drive. The right-hander, who was 2-0 with 1.00 ERA in his previous three starts, gave up three runs and three hits in two-plus innings. The team said X-rays were negative.

Pepiot doesn't expect to miss much time.

Mets starter Luis Severino allowed four runs, four hits and a career-high six walks in five innings. He struck out six during a 98-pitch outing. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the eighth in his previous start last Monday against the Cubs.

Yandy Díaz drove in two run for the Rays.

Mets slugger Pete Alonzo had one hit in 12 at-bats during the series and is 1 for 28 over his last eight games. His batting average is down to .206.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: RHP Kodai Senga (right shoulder strain) threw 32 pitches Saturday over two simulated innings in his second session of live batting practice. Mendoza said the reports on Senga were good. “He said he felt great,” Mendoza said. “Everything’s moving in the right direction.” Senga could be back in late May or early June.

Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (right pectoral strain) will likely rejoin the rotation this week.

UP NEXT

Mets: LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 3.07 ERA) faces Cardinals RHP Kyle Gibson (2-2, 3.79) on Monday night in St. Louis.

Rays: LHP Tyler Alexander (1-1. 5.02 ERA) will start or follow an opener Monday night against the Chicago White Sox. The AL-worst White Sox swept a three-game series from Tampa Bay last month.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates his two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot delivers to the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring on an RBI single by Yandy Diaz off New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot, left, is taken out of the game against the New York Mets by manager Kevin Cash, center, and trainer Joe Benge after getting hit on the foot by a ground ball by New York Mets' Starling Marte during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca celebrates his game-winning hit off New York Mets relief pitcher Jake Diekman during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca watches his game-winning hit off New York Mets relief pitcher Jake Diekman during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays players mob Jonny DeLuca after his game-winning hit off New York Mets relief pitcher Jake Diekman during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena celebrates his solo home run off New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena connects for a solo home run off New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Catching for the Mets is Tomas Nido. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto had his first multihomer game with the Yankees, Luis Gil struck out a career-high 14 and New York beat the Chicago White Sox 6-1 on Saturday to extend its winning streak to a season-high six games.

Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Trevino also went deep for New York, which has won 12 of 14 and improved to an AL-best 32-15. Soto was 4 for 4 with a walk and is batting .317 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs.

“It was a fun day," said Soto, who has rebounded after a 3-for-25 slide on a six-game road trip."

New York is 12-2-1 in series, matching 2002 as the only times since 1950 the Yankees have won 12 of their first 15 series.

Soto tied the score in the first with a 417-foot drive deep into the right-field bleachers, had an RBI single in the second and hit another solo shot in the fifth with a 437-footer deeper into the right-field bleachers. It was the 18th multihomer game for Soto, who combined with Stanton and Aaron Judge to make New York the first team this year with a trio of double-digit home run hitters.

Gil (5-1) won his fourth straight start and fifth consecutive decision, allowing one run, five hits and one walk in six innings. Gil has given up two runs over 24 1/3 innings in his last four starts.

“I have a great professor in Gerrit Cole,” Gil said through a translator of his Cy Young Award-winning teammate. “He’s always around and always giving me pointers.”

The 25-year-old right-hander averaged 96.4 mph with his fastball, 0.5 mph above his season average. He set the Yankees' rookie record for strikeouts, topping the 13 on Aug. 13, 1998, by Orlando Hernández, who threw out Saturday’s ceremonial first pitch.

“I was very happy to meet him after the game,” Gil said. “For him to be here and connect after the game — great.”

After struggling through a 29-pitch first inning that included 13 changeups, Gil struck out seven in a row starting in the fourth in a streak ended by Eloy Jiménez’s single.

“Maybe his best fastball of the year, which is saying something,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Brad Keller (0-2) allowed a career-high four homers. Making his second start this season, he gave up six runs — five earned — and seven hits in four-plus innings. Chicago batters struck out a season-high 16 times as the White Sox dropped to a major league-worst 4-18 on the road and 14-32 overall.

Andrew Benintendi’s opposite-field RBI double to left put Chicago ahead in the first, but Gil stranded the bases loaded when Korey Lee took a fastball for a called third strike.

Soto tied the score, Judge reached on an infield hit when third baseman Danny Mendick double-clutched before his throw, and Stanton hit an opposite-field RBI double off the right-center wall for a 2-1 lead.

Stanton homered to right-center in the fourth, his 11th of the season and fifth in nine games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Bryan Ramos, on the IL since straining his left quadriceps Tuesday, could soon start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte, manager Pedro Grifol said.

Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow nerve inflammation and edema) threw his first bullpen session in which he sat down in the middle for a break simulating an inning. “That’s a big, big one for him to check that box,” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “See how he bounces back after today and then go from there.” Cole was throwing in the low 90 mph range and soon could progress to batting practice. Cole was told to stop throwing in mid-March and pitched his first bullpen on May 4. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is likely to need four or five minor league rehab starts, simulating spring training.

UP NEXT

LHP Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.31) starts Sunday’s series finale coming off his first consecutive winning outings with the Yankees. RHP Chris Flexen (2-3, 4.46) starts for Chicago.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, celebrates with third base coach Luis Rojas as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. The Yankees won 6-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) celebrates with teammates after a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. The Yankees won 6-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) beats the throw to Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn for a single during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto, left, celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Luis Gil pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Luis Gil pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Brad Keller, right, reacts as New York Yankees' Juan Soto runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, New York Yankees' Juan Soto runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)