Loss Ensures Rays Fourth Straight Season Under .500

For the second straight night, the Tampa Bay Rays got out to an early lead, only to watch the New York Yankees come roaring back to take a 6-1 decision Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Adeiny Hechaverria got Tampa Bay's only run in the fifth inning, as he teed off on a Luis Severino slider that stayed up in the strike zone and blasted it into the seats in left for his eighth home run of the year.

But New York ensured that Andriese would not get a shutdown inning, as Jacoby Ellsbury worked a walk and Aaron Hicks singled the center fielder to third base.  Brett Gardner lined out for the first out of the inning, but Aaron Judge doubled into the left-field corner, bringing in both runners and giving the Yankees the lead for good.

Starlin Castro led off the bottom of the sixth with his 16th home run of the year, chasing Andriese from the game by making it 3-1.  Xavier Cedeno came in and immediately gave up a solo shot to Greg Bird, his eighth, for a 4-1 deficit, and after Chase Headley singled and took second on an Ellsbury groundout, Hicks set the score with a two-run blast, his 14th of the season.

Jose Alvarado finished off the sixth, while Ryne Stanek and Chase Whitley each worked a perfect inning of relief.

Severino (14-6) worked the first six for New York.  Chasen Shreve and Chad Green worked the seventh, Dellin Betances pitched a perfect eighth and Aroldis Chapman's 1-2-3 ninth finished the contest.

The loss ensures Tampa Bay will finish with a losing record for the fourth consecutive season.

The Rays will look to avoid being swept by taking the final road game of 2017.  Jake Faria (5-4, 3.33 ERA) will get the start, taking on Sonny Gray (10-11, 3.31 ERA).  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Sykes Lakeland.


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