ST. PETERSBURG — Taylor Walls and Jonathan Aranda had run-scoring infield grounders in the 10th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied late twice to beat the Yankees 5-4 Saturday night and extend New York’s losing streak to four.
Former Ray José Caballero, in a 1-for-29 slide, twice had go-ahead hits for the Yankees. His two-out, two-run double off Bryan Baker gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the eighth but Tampa Bay tied the score in the bottom half when Nick Fortes doubled leading off against Max Fried and scored on Yandy Díaz’s infield hit, a high-hopper to first baseman Ben Rice.
Caballero had an RBI single in the 10th against Cole Sulser (1-0) for a 4-3 lead, but Chandler Simpson reached on a bunt single off David Bednar (0-2) leading off the bottom half, moving automatic runner Cedric Mullins to third, and Walls bunted to Bednar, whose throw home was too late to catch Mullins on what was ruled a single.
Díaz was intentionally walked and, with left fielder Cody Bellinger brought in on the right side of a five-man infield, Hunter Feduccia struck out.
Aranda hit a one-hopper over Bellinger that glanced off the glove of onrushing second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., as Simpson crossed the plate standing on what was scored a fielder’s choice.
New York is 28th in the major leagues with a .202 batting average and is hitting .142 (18 for 127) with six extra-base hits during the losing streak. Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge was 0 for 3 with two walks and is hitting .212.
Fried allowed three runs and six hits in eight innings. Rays starter Nick Martinez gave up one run in 4.2 innings, Austin Wells’ second-inning homer.
Up next
Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (2-0) and Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (0-0) start Sunday’s series finale.