Luis Gil struggles in season debut as Yankees fall to Rays, 5-3

(Pablo Robles-Imagn Images)

1 / 2

Luis Gil struggles in season debut as Yankees fall to Rays, 5-3

1 / 2

Luis Gil struggles in season debut as Yankees fall to Rays, 5-3

2 / 2

Luis Gil struggles in season debut as Yankees fall to Rays, 5-3

(Pablo Robles-Imagn Images)

The Yankees didn't have enough juice on Friday night at Tropicana Field, falling to the Rays, 5-3.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Aaron Judge got the Yankees going in the first inning with a single and stolen base, advancing to third base on a throwing error by the catcher. The MVP scored on Cody Bellinger's sacrifice fly to make it a 1-0 game. Giancarlo Stanton walked and Amed Rosario came through with his first triple since 2024 as LF Chandler Simpson mistimed a sliding catch and the ball rolled to the wall, giving the Yanks a 2-0 lead.

-- Making his season debut, Lui Gil found himself in trouble right away. The 27-year-old recorded two quick outs before walking Jonathan Aranda and giving up a two-run home run to Yandy Díaz as the Rays tied it up at 2-2.

In the second inning, Gil hit Taylor Walls and then let up a single to Nick Fortes, setting up a first-and-third situation with just one out. Simpson hit a double play ball to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second, but used his league-best speed to beat the throw to first, allowing the run to score for the Rays to take a 3-2 lead.

Gil bounced back for a 1-2-3 third inning and avoided further damage in the fourth inning by getting a tag down on Ben Williamson trying to score on the safety squeeze. His day ended after 4.0 IP, allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

-- After Jake Bird tossed a scoreless fifth inning, Brent Headrick had a tough sixth inning. He let up a leadoff double to Williamson and RBI single to Simpson as the Rays pushed the lead to 4-2. Camilo Doval then came in and let up a single to Junior Caminero and an RBI groundout to Aranda, making it a 5-2 game.

-- Ben Rice blasted a pinch-hit solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, cutting the Tampa Bay lead to 5-3.

New York couldn't keep up the momentum as Judge grounded out and Bellinger struck out to end the frame. They tried to rally in the ninth with two straight singles, but a forceout, Randall Grichuk strike out, and Trent Grisham pop out ended the game.

Highlights

Upcoming Schedule

The Yankees continue their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.

Max Fried (2-0, 1.35 ERA) gets the start against righty Nick Martinez (0-0, 2.25 ERA).