Yankees unable to get big hit in 5-4 loss to Rays in extra innings; extend losing streak to four games

(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

1 / 2

Yankees unable to get big hit in 5-4 loss to Rays in extra innings; extend losing streak to four games

1 / 2

Yankees unable to get big hit in 5-4 loss to Rays in extra innings; extend losing streak to four games

2 / 2

Yankees unable to get big hit in 5-4 loss to Rays in extra innings; extend losing streak to four games

(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Jose Caballero gave the Yankees a late lead twice, but New York could not hold down the Rays in their 5-4 loss on Saturday evening at Tropicana Field.

In the 10th, and the Yankees up 4-3, the Rays played small ball. Back-to-back leadoff bunt singles pushed the tying run across before a one-out infield single by Jonathan Aranda gave Tampa the walk-off victory.

The loss extended snapped the Yankees' losing streak to four games and they have now lost back-to-back series. All four losses were by a combined five runs.

Here are the takeaways...

-Despite the Yankees' struggles to score runs over the last few games, they were not having trouble producing baserunners and that was the case in the first inning. After a leadoff walk by Trent Grisham and a one-out single by Cody Bellinger -- and an eventual stolen base -- the Yankees' best hitter so far, Ben Rice, was up with runners on second and third with one out. The left-hander struck out looking before Giancarlo Stanton -- the team's second-best hitter so far -- smoked a line drive, but it was hit right at the left fielder to end the threat.

Austin Wells got the scoring started with a solo shot that went 396 feet over the right field wall for his first long ball of the season.

But the theme of the game was missed opportunities for the Yankees. Aside from the first inning, the Yankees had bases loaded with two outs for Stanton in the fifth. The slugger struck out to leave more runners on.

The Yankees would have another chance in the eighth after Stanton drew a one-out walk and Jazz Chisholm Jr. doubled to put runners at second and third for Wells. The Yankees backstop popped out to shallow left field, leaving it up to the former Ray, Caballero. The struggling shortstop was hitless in his last 29 at-bats, but came through with a double that plated two and gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

-Max Fried was excellent and bounced back from his loss to the Marlins last Sunday.

After getting the lead, Fried allowed the tying run to score in the second when Jonny Deluca dunked a bloop single to score Junior Caminero -- who led off the inning with a double -- from third base. But after that hit, the Yankees southpaw set down eight straight batters to settle the game down. However, Tampa would take the lead in the sixth after an Aranda sac fly scored Taylor Walls from third. It could have been a bigger inning for the Rays if Bellinger hadn't come up with an impressive leaping grab at the wall that robbed Yandy Diaz of extra bases.

Diaz would get his revenge on Fried though. The Yankees southpaw pitched into the eighth inning and after allowing a leadoff double to Nick Fortes, Diaz hit a single, a chopper to first base that scored the speedy Chandler Simpson from third base to even up the score at 3-3.

Fried pitched eight innings (94 pitches/66 strikes), allowing three runs on six hits, no walks and striking out six.

-In the ninth, the Yankees would fail to come up with the big hit once again. Aaron Judge walked with one out and stole second base. He took third on a sac fly by Bellinger. The Rays intentionally walked Ben Rice to get to Randal Grichuk, who pinch-ran for Stanton earlier in the game. The outfielder would fly out to end the threat.

In the top of the 10th, and the ghost runner on third with two outs, Caballero came through again with a single to put the Yankees up. But the inability to put up big innings cost the Yankees who finished 2-for-12 with RISP and left 12 runners on base. In comparison, Tampa was 5-for-7 with RISP.

-One silver lining from the loss was the performance of the bottom of the order. The combination of Wells, Caballero and Ryan McMahon went 5-for-12 with four RBI.

Game MVP: Chandler Simpson

The speedy outfielder didn't start, but made his presence felt late. He scored the tying run in the eighth and the winning run in the 10th. He finished 1-for-1 with two runs and a stolen base.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Rays conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m.

Cam Schlittler (2-0, 1.62 ERA) takes on Drew Rasmussen (0-0, 1.80 ERA).