Yankees go deep three times, top Rays for 6th win in 7 games

By staff
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Updated: September 5, 2015

It may have been one of the most productive four-hit nights in Yankees history.

That was the Bombers’ modest hit total on Friday, but three of them landed in the seats as the Yankees took a 5-2 win over the Rays in front of 32,530 at the Stadium.

“I’ve said for us to win we usually need to hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Joe Girardi said. “That’s what we did tonight.”

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The victory was the sixth in seven games for the Yankees, who finally picked up ground in the AL East race for the first time in more than a week. The Blue Jays lost to the Orioles, which trimmed Toronto’s lead over the Yankees to just a half-game.

Jake Odorizzi (6-8) allowed only five baserunners — three hits and two walks — during his 6.2 innings for the Rays, but all three hits left the yard, and both walks came before home runs, making for an ineffective night for the 25-year-old righthander.

Alex Rodriguez, Brian McCann and Greg Bird all took Odorizzi deep, giving Luis Severino ample run support.

“Another great performance,” McCann said of the rookie. “He’s been doing that since his first start. . . . He’s just got poise. He knows he belongs.”

Severino (3-2) earned his third straight victory, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks, striking out five over a career-high 6.1 innings. Severino’s 2.04 ERA in his six starts represents the lowest by any Yankees starter since he joined the rotation a month ago.

“It’s very exciting. I want to help the team to win,” Severino said through an interpreter. “Every time I touch the mound, my team makes me be comfortable.”

Brett Gardner reached on a two-out infield single in the eighth and was the only Yankees baserunner not to score in the game. The Yanks did not have a runner in scoring position all night.

“We made the most of our hits,” Girardi said.

McCann led off the second with a walk, setting up A-Rod’s two-run blast to left field. It was Rodriguez’s 27th homer of the year, but his first since Aug. 20 and only his third in the past 32 games.

Odorizzi (6-8) retired seven straight after A-Rod’s homer, striking out five of them. McCann broke that streak with a shot over the Yankees bullpen, making him 11-for-17 (.647) with three homers against the righty.

“We’ve got guys that can hit the ball out of the ballpark, we take our walks. That’s what happened tonight,” said McCann, who tied his career high with 24 homers. “We got a walk, homer. Then another one. We can beat you in a lot of different ways.”

Severino stranded five runners — three of them in scoring position — over the first four innings. Evan Longoria ended Severino’s shutout with a leadoff homer in the sixth.

Tampa Bay put the tying runs on base as Severino issued a two-out walk to Asdrubal Cabrera and James Loney reached on an infield single off Greg Bird’s glove. Severino struck out Kevin Kiermaier to end the inning, pumping his fist after escaping another jam.

“You can tell why there’s a lot of excitement about him,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He looks like a really good pitcher. Young guy had a good feel for the strike zone (and) threw all of his pitches.”

Odorizzi’s odd night continued as he sat down eight consecutive Yankees following McCann’s fourth-inning homer, keeping the Rays within two runs through six innings.

Severino got the first out in the seventh before Grady Sizemore beat out a ground ball he hit into the shift in shallow right field. Girardi pulled his starter after only 91 pitches, and Justin Wilson recorded the final two outs in the seventh.

Odorizzi walked McCann to open the seventh, then struck out A-Rod. But Bird crushed a 2-2 splitter into the right-field seats, his two-run shot boosting the Yankees’ lead to 5-1.

Adam Warren pitched a scoreless eighth before allowing a run in the ninth, bringing in Andrew Miller. The closer got the final two outs for his 30th save. “It’s just important to win baseball games from here on out,” McCann said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s at home or on the road, we just have to continue to play good baseball and get as many wins as we can.”

Baseball – NY Daily News