The Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 5-2 in Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field. The victory gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Ben Rice supplied both New York runs with solo home runs in the fourth and eighth innings. Reuters reported that the Yankees committed four errors and three came in the first inning. Tampa Bay broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the fifth.
Richie Palacios delivered a two-run single during the fifth-inning rally to extend the Rays' lead to 5-1.
New York's defensive problems began almost immediately. Yandy Díaz reached when third baseman Ryan McMahon failed to handle a ground ball before Jonathan Aranda followed with a single. Díaz later scored when a throw by Jazz Chisholm Jr. went wide of first base during an attempted double play.
Cam Schlittler started for the Yankees and was charged with four runs over 4 1/3 innings. Freddy Peralta allowed three hits over 4 2/3 innings before Tampa Bay turned the game over to its bullpen.
Cam Booser escaped a bases-loaded threat by getting Cody Bellinger to fly out in the fifth inning. Ian Seymour then worked three innings and allowed only Rice's second home run while striking out four. Bryan Baker pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save of the series.
Manager Aaron Boone kept the same starting lineup that New York used in Game 1. Spencer Jones started in right field while Trent Grisham remained in center field for both games. The Yankees also continued to play without captain Aaron Judge because of his right calf injury.
The 2-0 deficit puts New York in a difficult position based on postseason history. MLB reported that teams taking a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series had gone on to win 83 of 93 such series through this game.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at Yankee Stadium with the Yankees facing elimination.