Yankees 5-7 Rays: Aaron Judge extends streak, but NY can’t overcome early hole in loss

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Jonathan Aranda tallied three RBIs and Chandler Simpson once again showed off his elite speed as the Tampa Bay Rays edged the New York Yankees 7–5 on Sunday afternoon in the Bronx, claiming the rubber match of the three-game series.

The Yankees (19–15) dropped their fourth game in six tries, struggling to contain a Rays team that consistently found creative ways to generate runs and exploit defensive lapses.

Jonathan Aranda drives in three as Rays outplay Yankees in series finale

Simpson, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI, sparked Tampa Bay’s offense in multiple innings. He opened the scoring in the second by legging out a would-be double play, allowing Travis Jankowski to score. An inning later, Aranda launched a solo homer to right-center—his fifth of the year—to double the lead.

The Rays’ aggressive and gritty approach reached its peak in the fourth. Brandon Lowe broke the game open with a two-run single, and Simpson later dashed home from third on a slow roller by Yandy Díaz. The ball was barely knocked down by Oswald Peraza, but Simpson never hesitated, scoring to make it 5–0. KHMER55

Will Warren, making just his second career start for New York, lasted 4.2 innings and gave up five earned runs on seven hits and three walks, despite notching a career-high eight strikeouts. Tampa Bay reached him for damage early and often, particularly the third time through the lineup, which had only happened once in his big-league career before Sunday.

The Yankees found life in the sixth when Trent Grisham led off with a single, followed by Cody Bellinger launching his 200th career home run, a two-run shot that cut the deficit to 5–2. However, the Rays answered quickly.

With Clarke Schmidt sidelined due to left side soreness and the bullpen taxed from the day before, manager Aaron Boone turned to Carlos Carrasco in the seventh. But “Cookie” couldn’t keep the game close. Simpson reached on a swinging-bunt single and the light-hitting Taylor Walls added his third hit of the day to help load the bases. Aranda then delivered a two-run single, restoring the five-run cushion.

Despite Tampa Bay stranding 16 runners and twice leaving the bases loaded, the Yankees couldn’t capitalize. They mounted one last push in the eighth, sparked by Aaron Judge’s leadoff double, which extended his hitting streak to 14 games and on-base streak to 30. Paul Goldschmidt drove him in, and after a sharp line drive off the wall by Jasson Domínguez loaded the bases, Boone stuck with backup catcher Carlos Escarra instead of turning to Austin Wells or Ben Rice. Escarra grounded into a backbreaking 1-2-3 double play.

Rookie Jorbit Vivas stepped up next with two outs and delivered his first career MLB hit—a two-run single to center that trimmed the deficit to 7–5. Rice later drew a walk to reload the bases, but Peraza grounded out to end the inning. Wells entered defensively the following inning but never got a chance to bat.

Pete Fairbanks sealed the win with authority, striking out Grisham, Judge, and Bellinger in order in the ninth.

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Up next

The Yankees now turn their attention to a new challenge as they welcome the San Diego Padres to the Bronx. Carlos Rodón will take the mound in Monday’s opener against Nick Pivetta, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET on YES.

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