Brett Gardner played the role of hero Saturday in The Bronx, hitting a game-winning solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, as the Yankees won their second straight over the Rays, this time 3-2.
Gardner hit a 3-1 pitch off Erasmo Ramirez deep into the right-field seats to give the Yankees the victory, as they try to put their recent struggles behind them.
Masahiro Tanaka took advantage of Monday’s off day and was able to pitch on five-days’ rest. And the right-hander delivered his best start of the season.
He was facing Tampa Bay lefty Blake Snell, who was making his MLB debut and shut down the Yankees after a rocky first inning.