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He yankees opened their series against the Tampa Bay Rays with a brilliant outing of Clarke Schmidt en route to a 2-0 victory Friday night at Tropicana Field.
Here are the conclusions…
-Schmidt had his best start of the season on Friday against the Rays. The right-hander pitched 6.2 scoreless innings – the deepest he has pitched in any game this year – allowing five hits, two walks and striking out six.
The Rays did not have a runner reach third base against Schmidt nor did they record an extra-base hit against the right-hander. The biggest problem he faced was in the fifth, after giving up a two-out single. Richie Palacios and a walk to Jose Caballero he struck out again Alex Jackson to escape the traffic jam.
-The Rays entered the game first in the American League with 47 stolen bases, but the Yankees did a good job limiting the damage they could do on the bases.
In the third inning, Caballero stole second base and tried to steal third as well, but Jose Trevino he made a perfect throw to third base to catch the speedy infielder for the second out of the inning. Treviño also cast Isaac Paredes in the seventh at second base to end the inning.
In the sixth, Schmidt intercepted Randy Arozarena on first base for the second out of the inning, much to the surprise of the Rays outfielder.
-The Yankees offense continued its Jekyll and Hyde performance, scoring only two runs, all courtesy of Antonio Rizzo.
In the room, Aaron judge he reached base on a walk with one out before Giancarlo Stanton he hit a 116 mph single to left field, moving Judge to third. This set up Rizzo to hit an opposite-field RBI single to left to give the Yankees the lead.
Rizzo added a much-needed insurance run in the ninth with a solo shot to right field.
The Bombers had a chance to go ahead in the seventh, with juan soto at the plate with two runners on base, but the slugger was fooled by a 3-2 sinker from the Rays left-hander. Garrett Cleavinger to end the threat.
–Holmes Clay, who hadn’t pitched in five days, walked a tightrope in the ninth inning. He walked two of the first three batters he faced and allowed a two-out single. Austin Shenton that laid the foundations for Jonny Deluca. But Holmes calmed down and got Deluca to chase down a sweeper and close out the game.
Who was the MVP?
Clarke Schmidt. With the Yankees’ offense doing little Friday night, Schmidt silenced the Rays’ bats and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time all season to pick up the win.
Reflexes
Whats Next
The Yankees continue their three-game series against the Rays on Saturday at Tropicana Field.
New York Lefty Nestor Cortes (1-3, 3.73 ERA) hits the opposite rubber Zack Littell (1-2, 3.00 ERA) for a 4:10 p.m. kickoff.