NEW YORK -- It seemed like the moment the Yankees had been waiting for all afternoon. They'd trailed for almost the entirety of a close game and Didi Gregorius opened the bottom of the eighth against the Rays with an infield hit and reached second on a throwing error by pitcher Diego Castillo. The middle of the order on the top offensive team in baseball was due up.
The moment, however, never arrived, as Castillo did a number on the meat of the Yankees' lineup. He struck out Giancarlo Stanton on a full-count breaking ball, got Greg Bird to ground out and fanned Gary Sanchez on three pitches.