Yankees: D’Arnaud & Rays Stun Chapman & Yankees In Series Opener

Coming off a series win over the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, the Yankees broke out the long ball in an attempt to steal one against the Tampa Bay Rays to kick off a four-game set in the Bronx on Monday night. However, it would be the Rays who would sneak out of the Bronx with a win.

James Paxton didn’t have his best stuff, however, was able to work through his struggles to keep the Yankees in the game, tossing 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, allowing two solo home runs to Travis D’Arnaud, including one to lead off the ball game in the first inning.

The “Big Maple”, as well as Chad Green, who pitched two scoreless innings of his own, was benefited by the Bombers’ gloves in the field. Aaron Judge was able to gun down a runner at third with a picture-perfect throw, Gary Sanchez caught a carless Rays baserunner sleeping at second base, Aaron Hicks was able to make a running grab near the warning track in center and there happened to be more third-base magic by Gio Urshela.

PARROT GOES FOR 2 WALKS

Struggling early on in the first few frames against the 2018 American League CY Young Award winner, Blake Snell, the Yankees would break out the long ball when Edwin Encarnacion connected for his 26th home-run of the season to put the yanks on the board first.

Kevin Cash would decide to go to his bullpen for the final nine outs, and that is when things became a little shaky, as with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning, Gio Urshela would tag Emilio Pagan for a solo shot over the left-field wall to tie the game at two apiece.

Andrew Kittredge would not fare much better than Pagan when Edwin Encarnacion took his parrot for a second walk in the bottom of the 8th inning, launching a go-ahead two-run blast into the left-field bleachers to give the Yanks a 4-2 advantage, heading into the 9th inning.

Aaron Boone would call on his closer, Aroldis Chapman, to get the final three outs of the night, with the left-handed flame thrower only blowing three saves all season. Chapman would finish the night with four blown saves.

D’ARNAUD STUNS THE BRONX

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After allowing the first two batters in Kevin Kiermaier and Guillermo Heredia to reach, Chapman would strike out the next two in Willy Adames and Joey Wendle, going head-to-head with Travis D’Arnaud, who had hurt James Paxton twice, previously, with two runners on and as the go-ahead run.

After working the count full, Chapman would hang a slider, and D’Arnaud would despot it over the right-field wall, just over the out-stretched glove of Aaron Judge, to stun Yankee Stadium and give the Rays a 5-4 lead.

Travis D’Arnaud would single-handedly defeat the Yankees with three homers and 5 runs batted in on Monday night, as Luke Voit would take a called third strike for the final out of the night, leaving Aaron Judge stranded on first base.

CC Sabathia takes the ball in the second game of a four-game set at 7 ET, in what will be his final career home start against the Tampa Bay Rays.