Brandon Lowe homered for the fifth time in six games, Austin Meadows also connected and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading New York Yankees 6-3 Tuesday night.
The second-place Rays cut their deficit to 1 1/2 games in the opener of this three-game set. Tampa Bay has won four of five in the season series.
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Brandon Lowe homered for the fifth time in six games, Austin Meadows also connected and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading New York Yankees 6-3 Tuesday night.
Kevin Kiermaier lined a one-out triple in the third inning and scored on a hit by nine-hole hitter Michael Perez. Meadows followed with a base hit, and then Lowe drilled a three-run shot to center off Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) for a 4-0 lead.
Blake Snell (2-0) entered the night 1-5 with a 5.82 ERA in 11 career starts at Yankee Stadium. The 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner worked around leadoff runners in the first three innings and got through the fifth, allowing three runs, four hits and two walks.
Voit hit a two-run homer in the fifth, cutting the lead to 6-3 with his eighth of the season. The hulking first baseman started in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career as manager Aaron Boone shuffles a lineup missing injured stars Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu.
SHUFFLING THE DECK
Luke Voit hit his third homer in two days and Gary Sánchez also went deep, but New York ended a six-game winning streak and dropped to 10-1 at Yankee Stadium this season.
Tampa Bay Rays Brandon Lowe, right, celebrates with Austin Meadows (17) and Michael Perez (7) both of whom scored on Lowe's thrid-inning, three-run home run in a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in New York. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
Kevin Kiermaier lined a one-out triple in the third inning and scored on a hit by nine-hole hitter Michael Perez. Meadows followed with a base hit, and then Lowe drilled a three-run shot to center off Masahiro Tanaka (0-1) for a 4-0 lead.
Lowe is batting .500 with 11 runs and 13 RBIs over his last seven games.
Tanaka had difficulty locating his pitches and was hit hard, charged with six runs — five earned — and eight hits over four innings.
Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Austin Meadows (17) leaps but can't catch a ball hit by Luke Voit for a two-run, home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in New York. Tampa Bay Rays bullpen staff watch the play. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
Blake Snell (2-0) entered the night 1-5 with a 5.82 ERA in 11 career starts at Yankee Stadium. The 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner worked around leadoff runners in the first three innings and got through the fifth, allowing three runs, four hits and two walks.
Willy Adames scored on a passed ball by Gary Sánchez in the fourth. Meadows went deep to lead off the fifth, chasing Tanaka.
Sánchez clubbed a solo shot in the fourth, his fifth of the year and fifth career homer against Snell.
New York Yankees Luke Voit (59) drops his bat as he watches his two-run, home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in New York. Rays catcher Michael Perez is behind the plate. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
Voit hit a two-run homer in the fifth, cutting the lead to 6-3 with his eighth of the season. The hulking first baseman started in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career as manager Aaron Boone shuffles a lineup missing injured stars Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu.
New York loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but reliever Diego Castillo retired Voit and Gio Urshela to end the threat.
Nick Anderson and Chaz Roe combined for a scoreless eighth and ninth, with Roe converting his first save opportunity.
New York Yankees designated hitter Miguel Andujar breaks his bat on a Diego Castillo pitch during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in New York. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
SHUFFLING THE DECK
The Rays acquired right-hander Edgar Garcia from Philadelphia for a player to be named later and signed free agent left-hander Dietrich Enns to a minor league contract. Both players will report to the club’s alternate site.
To make room, Tampa Bay designated infielder Daniel Robertson for assignment.
New York Yankees' Aaron Hicks (31) reacts during an at-bat in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in New York. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
The Yankees recalled righty Nick Nelson from their alternate site, optioning fellow reliever Ben Heller. They also signed veteran shortstop Jordy Mercer to a minor league deal.
Nelson pitched three shutout frames.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: LHP Jose Alvarado (left shoulder inflammation) saw a doctor in New York on Monday and will be shut down from throwing for at least 10-14 days. ... RHP Charlie Morton (right shoulder inflammation) threw a “pretty intense” bullpen Tuesday, according to manager Kevin Cash. The two-time All-Star will play catch Wednesday. ... RHP Oliver Drake (right biceps tendinitis) is expected to begin a throwing program shortly. ... LHP/DH Brendan McKay will have season-ending surgery on his left throwing shoulder Wednesday.
Yankees: RF Aaron Judge (strained right calf) took batting practice and could be activated for Saturday’s showdown with the crosstown Mets, the first day the slugger is eligible to return. ... C Kyle Higashioka (strained right oblique) continues to ramp up from a workload standpoint but is not expected back soon.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 7.04 ERA) is winless in three career starts against the Yankees.
Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (4-0, 2.76 ERA) looks to extend a career-long 20-game winning streak.
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