Yankees silence Rays for fifth straight win

Trent Grisham delivered a run-scoring single in the top of the second inning, and four pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the visiting New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 on Friday.

Carlos Rodon (2-3) allowed two hits with four walks and nine strikeouts over six innings. Mark Leiter Jr. and Fernando Cruz each pitched an inning before Luke Weaver retired the Rays in order in the ninth for his second save.

Paul Goldschmidt had three of the Yankees’ five hits for his 10th multi-hit game of the season. New York has won five straight games and seven of its last nine.

Tampa Bay lost its fourth straight game despite a strong outing from starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (1-1), who gave up one run on three hits over a season-high 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Rodon began his outing with a leadoff walk in the first inning. Junior Caminero followed with a single before Rodon fanned the next three batters.

New York pushed a run across in the second inning against Rasmussen after Goldschmidt hit a leadoff single.

Goldschmidt moved to second on J.C. Escarra’s one-out walk and Anthony Volpe struck out before Grisham delivered a run-scoring single.

Escarra started at catcher in place of Austin Wells, who was removed from the starting lineup due to food poisoning.

The game featured a pair of key defensive plays in the late innings.

Mark Leiter Jr. replaced Rodon in the seventh inning and was greeted by a rocket to right field by leadoff hitter Jonathan Aranda, who was tagged out attempting to reach third base on a perfect relay throw.

The Rays responded with a stellar defensive play in the eighth inning when center fielder Jose Caballero robbed Ben Rice of a two-run homer with a catch over the wall.

The Rays have opened the four-game series at the Yankees’ spring training home of George M. Steinbrenner Field by leaving a total of 15 runners on base.

–Field Level Media