The day began with a three-run blast by Carlos Pena. Most times that means it going to be a great ball game for the Tampa Bay Rays and their fans, except that was one of the last few things to go their way. They left 12 runners on base, including a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the third inning. Gabe Kapler hit a solo shot in the seventh and Matt Joyce doubled Pena home in the top off the ninth; it just wasn’t enough to overcome the New York Yankees, who steamrolled starter David Price for seven runs through five innings and went on to win 9-5.
The Rays started stranding men as early as the first inning; after Pena’s long ball, Ben Zobrist and Jason Bartlett both singled. Gabe Kapler lined out to third and Kelly Shoppach grounded to the shortstop to leave ‘em hanging. Zobrist struck out to lead off the third before Bartlett and Kapler both singled. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte left the game with a groin injury and reliever David Robertson walked Shoppach to load the bases. Sean Rodriguez popped out to short and Upton flied to right to end that important scoring chance. Crawford singled and stole second in the fourth inning; he was sacrificed to third on Evan Longoria’s fly ball to center but Pena struck out and Zobrist grounded to second to leave yet another Rays runner stranded.
