Final
Rising Rays complete sweep of struggling Yanks
Jul 3, 2014 - 3:26 AM Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Sean Rodriguez drove in three runs and struck the go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, as the Tampa Bay Rays went on to post a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees to sweep a three-game series.James Loney and Brandon Guyer also knocked in runs for the Rays, who have won a season-high five straight overall.
"We're getting a different bus driver on a daily basis," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "That's kind of neat. That's what we need. That's who we have to be. We're not necessarily built around one guy, we're built as a group. Everybody has to do their job."
Jake Odorizzi (4-7) allowed three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings for the win. Brad Boxberger came up with a scoreless final frame for his first save.
Brett Gardner and Brian McCann slugged solo homers for the Yankees, who have dropped five in a row and dipped below .500 at 41-42.
"We can't change it. It's over with now," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. "Anything that has happened up until this point, you can forget about it. We need to play better. Talent doesn't win games. We need to go out there and perform."
Vidal Nuno (2-5) worked five-plus frames in defeat, giving up eight hits and four runs -- three earned -- while fanning five and walking two.
In the sixth, Logan Forsythe hit a leadoff single against Nuno and came in when Rodriguez greeted Shawn Kelley with a two-run shot to center that gave the Rays a 5-3 advantage.
"I hit it clean," Rodriguez deadpanned of his mammoth 445-foot blast.
Tampa stranded two on with two out in the seventh as Forsythe fanned looking, but the visitors tacked on another run in the ninth.
Ben Zobrist reached on a fielder's choice, then moved to third as Guyer's grounder was compounded by two errors from Yangervis Solarte. Zobrist scored on a Loney groundout.
Boxberger capped the contest by fanning two and retiring the Yanks in order.
New York picked up its first two runs of the contest via the longball. Gardner's leadoff shot to right in the first inning, then McCann's high-arcing drive landed just over the wall in right in the third gave the hosts a 2-1 edge.
Tampa squeezed in a run in the top of the third, as Kevin Kiermaier reached on a fielder's choice, Zobrist doubled and the former came in on a passed ball.
Forsythe doubled with one down in the fourth and scored on a Rodriguez hit to right, where Alfonso Soriano recovered from misplaying the fly and threw the presumptuous runner out at second.
Gardner's two-out hit in the home fourth brought in Soriano -- who began the inning with a single -- but the Rays evened things once more in the fifth. Desmond Jennings singled with one away, Zobrist doubled and Guyer's base hit scored Jennings.
Game Notes
The Rays' first three batters combined to go 7-for-12 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI ... Odorizzi has won his last two decisions, and hasn't lost since June 10 ... The Yankees played without the services of infielder/DH Mark Teixeira (knee) and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (rest) ... Both clubs are in action on Thursday, as Tampa continues its road swing in Detroit to kick off a four-game set, while the Yankees head to Minnesota for the first of four contests ... Boxberger's only previous save came with San Diego last season.
- TAMPA BAY: 6
NEW YORK: 3
Final
Jul 2 4:41 PM - James Loney ground out to first scored Ben Zobrist with two outs. On the play, Evan Longoria advances to second and Brandon Guyer advances to third. Runners on second and third and Logan Forsythe due up.
Rays 6, Yankees 3 Top 9, 2 OutsJul 2 4:29 PM - Sean Rodriguez none-out, two-run Home Run (8) to center scored Logan Forsythe. Ryan Hanigan due up.
Rays 5, Yankees 3 Top 6, 0 OutsJul 2 3:03 PM - Brandon Guyer singled to left scored Desmond Jennings with one out. On the play, Ben Zobrist tagged out at home. Runner on second with two outs and Evan Longoria due up.
Rays 3, Yankees 3 Top 5, 2 OutsJul 2 2:46 PM - Brett Gardner single to right scored Alfonso Soriano with two outs. On the play, Ichiro Suzuki advances to third. Runners on first and third and Derek Jeter due up.
Rays 2, Yankees 3 Bot 4, 2 OutsJul 2 2:36 PM - Sean Rodriguez single to right scored Logan Forsythe with one out. On the play Sean Rodriguez thrown aot at second. None on with two outs and Ryan Hanigan due up.
Rays 2, Yankees 2 Top 4, 2 OutsJul 2 2:19 PM - Brian McCann two-out, solo Home Run (10) to right. Carlos Beltran due up.
Rays 1, Yankees 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsJul 2 2:05 PM - Ben Zobrist advances to third on a passed ball. Kevin Kiermaier scored on a passed ball with two outs. Runner on third and Brandon Guyer at the plate.
Rays 1, Yankees 1 Top 3, 2 OutsJul 2 1:57 PM - Brett Gardner lead-off Home Run (8) to right center. Derek Jeter due up.
Rays 0, Yankees 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsJul 2 1:20 PM - TAMPA BAY: 0
NEW YORK: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 2 1:09 PM
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