Yankees 2-3 Rays: Judge homers early, Wells delivers, but Bombers’ bullpen falters late

New York Yankees 2-3 Tampa Bay Rays

Austin Wells gave Yankees fans something to cheer about — and chew on — Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Just hours after his signature breakfast burrito debuted at select concession stands, the rookie catcher launched a go-ahead solo home run in the fifth inning. But his efforts weren’t enough, as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied late to hand the Yankees a 3-2 loss.

How it happened

The decisive blow came in the top of the eighth. The Yankees were clinging to a 2-1 lead when reliever Mark Leiter Jr. surrendered a leadoff single to Christopher Morel. Pinch-runner Chandler Simpson promptly stole second, then Leiter walked Brandon Lowe. The duo executed a double steal moments later, putting runners on second and third with no outs.

Leiter struck out Junior Caminero for the first out, but Curtis Mead tied the game with a soft RBI single to left field. José Caballero followed with a grounder up the middle, and while shortstop Anthony Volpe attempted an unassisted double play, he bobbled the ball, allowing Lowe to score the go-ahead run.

The Rays finished with six stolen bases — three of them in that pivotal inning.

The Yankees threatened in the bottom half. After a single and a walk, Aaron Judge came to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs. But the captain, who had homered in the first inning, grounded out to short to end the rally.

Aaron Judge finished 2-for-4 with his 11th home run of the season and is now hitting an MLB-best .432. His first-inning blast off Rays starter Zack Littell gave New York an early 1-0 lead.

Tampa tied it in the second inning after Ryan Yarbrough, starting in place of Clarke Schmidt, issued back-to-back walks with one out. Taylor Walls drove in the run with a sacrifice fly, but Yarbrough limited the damage, fielding a broken-bat comebacker for the third out. The veteran left-hander, facing his former team, allowed just one hit and one run over four innings.

Clarke Schmidt was scratched with left side soreness. An MRI came back clean, and he’s expected to make his next start Tuesday.

Yarbrough, signed late in spring training, made his first start and ninth appearance for the Yankees, lowering his ERA to 3.72. Ian Hamilton and Fernando Cruz followed with three combined scoreless innings — Cruz striking out one and extending his strikeout lead among relievers to 28.

But Leiter’s struggles in the eighth spoiled the effort. Tim Hill cleaned up the inning and added a scoreless ninth, but the Yankees couldn’t mount a comeback against the Rays bullpen.

Volpe had a scare in the eighth, diving for Morel’s single and appearing to injure his left shoulder. After being checked by trainers, he stayed in the game but finished hitless in three at-bats, snapping his seven-game hitting streak.

Wells, meanwhile, continued to make noise on and off the field. His 384-foot homer — his sixth of the season — put the Yankees ahead 2-1 in the fifth. The blast came just hours after fans got their first taste of “The Wells Favurrito,” a breakfast burrito crafted by Wells himself and sold exclusively during day games at sections 110, 217, and 321. The burrito includes eggs, sausage, Maple City fries, cheddar jack cheese, and chipotle aioli.

Zack Littell earned the win for Tampa, giving up just two runs in seven innings. Edwin Uceta and Pete Fairbanks closed the door for the Rays.

Cody Bellinger, bumped to the leadoff spot, went 1-for-4 and continues to struggle with a .610 OPS.

Roster

Up next

The Yankees (21-12) and Rays (18-15) wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. Will Warren (1-1, 5.63 ERA) is scheduled to face Taj Bradley (2-2, 4.58 ERA) at 1:35 p.m. in the Bronx.