ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The ugliness to the end of the Yankees’ season took another rough turn in the bottom of the first inning Sunday against the Rays, as a comedy of errors led to a quick lead for Tampa Bay.
After Randy Arozarena led off the inning against Carlos Rodon with a single to left, Harold Ramirez popped out to second.
That’s when things quickly unraveled for the Yankees — and then Rodon.
Arozarena took off for second on an 0-1 pitch to Brandon Lowe and Kyle Higashioka airmailed the throw to center.
Arozarena got to his feet and headed toward third, where Harrison Bader’s throw bounced past Oswald Peraza and then scooted by Rodon, who was backing up the play.
The misadventure from the last-place Yankees allowed Arozarena to score the game’s first run.
Kyle Higashioka’s throw sailed over the head of Anthony Volpe, allowing Randy Arozarena to head for third base. Screengrab via Twitter/@RaysBaseball
Randy Arozarena started by stealing second base against the Yankees, but he scored before the play was over. APThen, on Rodon’s next pitch, Lowe crushed a solo homer into the stingray tank beyond the fence in right-center at Tropicana Field.
With the Yankees down 2-0, Isaac Paredes followed with a single, Rodon hit Osleivis Basabe with a pitch and Luke Raley added another base hit to load the bases with one out before Rodon righted himself by getting Jose Siri on a soft liner to short and then striking out Christian Bethancourt.
Randy Arozarena slides into home to score a run against the Yankees on Sunday. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Randy Arozarena celebrates after scoring against the Yankees during the first inning of Sunday’s game. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConThe Yankees then tied the game and ultimately took the lead with three homers across the third and fourth innings — one from Higashioka, one from DJ LeMahieu and then a two-run blast from Anthony Volpe — to lead by two runs.
That inched them closer to winning their first series since July 21-23 against the Royals.
