The Tampa Bay Rays extended their lead in the American League Eastern Division on Sunday in St. Petersburg, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2.
The winners have a one-game priority at the top of the section, as the Red Sox game against the Miami Marlins in Boston was called off due to rain.
The home team quickly took the lead in this meeting. In the second inning, Mike Zunino sent the ball out of bounds when Joey Wendle was on the trails.
The Rays added two runs three innings later. Brett Phillips first hit his third long ball of the season, solo. A few hitters later, Ji-Man Choi hit a double that drove Randy Arozarena home.
Wendle is the one who produced the Rays’ other two points in his seventh round at bat with a single.
The Rays still gave the Phillies hope in the ninth inning. The visitors were able to fill the trails, but reliever Diego Castillo pulled through with the last out, at the expense of Odubel Herrera.
On the mound, the victory went to Josh Fleming’s record, even though he did not start the game. He came in relief to Collin McHugh, after the latter had obtained the first two strikeouts of the meeting. In four and two-thirds innings, Fleming (5-3) allowed the Phillies’ only two runs on four hits. He also spent five batters in the mitt.
Yankees crash into Tigers
Against one of the worst teams in major league baseball, the Tigers, the New York Yankees fell 6-2 in Detroit.
At the same time, the Bronx Bombers were swept away for the first time in 20 years at Comerica Park.
For six innings, the visiting hitters were duped by starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, who bit the dust on eight opponents. He also limited the Yankees to three hits and as many walks, without conceding any runs.
A two-point lead in the first set due to a double from Nomar Mazara, the local team took advantage of their third round at bat to achieve a four-point push. Jonathan Schoop first took advantage of a mistake by shortstop Gleyber Torres to cross the plate. Two hitters later, Willi Castro cleared the trails by hitting a double.
Torres and Gary Sanchez provided a response from the visitors, who produced one point each, in the eighth inning.
The Orioles still beaten
In Chicago, the last team in the East American standings, the Baltimore Orioles, were once again defeated, this time by a score of 3-1 against the White Sox.
It is a 13th straight loss for the formation of Maryland, swept for a fourth consecutive series. The Orioles have only tasted victory twice in their last 22 games.
On the Guaranteed Rate Field, the visitors had taken a slim 1-0 lead, thanks to a solo circuit by DJ Stewart, but that was their only moment of celebration. In the next half-inning, the home team tied for a long ball from Billy Hamilton.
Nick Madrigal and Yoan Moncada produced the other points for the winners in the seventh inning.
At the mound, for the winners, Lucas Giolito (5-4) made life difficult for the opposing hitters, passing 12 of them in the mitt. In seven innings of work, he allowed three hits and as many walks.
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