Richie Palacios ripped a two-run single to highlight a four-run fifth inning, fueling the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla., and a two-games-to-none edge in an American League Division Series.
Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero each had two hits and a run for the Rays, who are in control of the best-of-five series. Game 3 is Wednesday in New York.
The Yankees did themselves no favors by committing four errors, including three in the first inning.
New York’s lone bright spot was Ben Rice, who hit solo homers in the fourth and eighth innings. He has two multi-homer games in this postseason.
In a 1-1 game, Aranda singled to lead off the fifth inning, advanced to third base on Caminero’s single and scored on Liam Hicks’ slow grounder to second base. Caminero moved to third base on that play and scored on Chandler Simpson’s infield single.
Brent Headrick relieved Cam Schlittler (1-1) and struck out the first batter he faced before an error by shortstop George Lombard Jr. on a ball hit by Jonny DeLuca extended the inning. DeLuca then stole second. Palacios, a New York native, then drove a line-drive single to center field, plating both runners and boosting the Rays’ lead to 5-1.
Schlittler was charged for four runs (two earned) on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Cam Booser (1-0) relieved Rays starter Freddy Peralta and induced Cody Bellinger to fly out with the bases loaded to end the top of the fifth inning.
Ian Seymour struck out four batters while allowing just one hit, Rice’s second homer, in three innings. Bryan Baker tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his second save in as many games of the series.
Sloppy defense by New York led to Tampa Bay opening the scoring in the first inning. Yandy Diaz reached base after third baseman Ryan McMahon failed to handle a routine grounder. Diaz advanced to second on a single by Aranda and scored after a throw by second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. in a bid to complete a double play sailed wide of first base.
